Bosnian Ex-Fighter Convicted of Abusing, Robbing Serb Civilians
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“Taking into account of all the pieces of evidence presented, the trial chamber has determined without doubt that the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has proved that Islamovic committed crimes against the civilian population,” said presiding judge Zoran Bozic.
The first-instance verdict said that civilian Branislav Naric was arrested in June 1992 and taken to the old police building in Bosanski Brod, where Islamovic knocked him down and beat him up.
The verdict also said that the defendant participated in taking money from civilian Ratko Kovacevic, who handed over 20,000 German marks so that his life would be spared.
Under the first-instance verdict, Islamovic was also acquitted of the murder of several civilians, as well as mining and burning religious and cultural monuments and houses owned by Serbs.
The court said it had not found sufficient evidence to convict him of participation in the crimes.
He was further acquitted of taking civilians to a bridge over the river Sava, where they were tied up and exposed to bombing from the air.
Judge Bozic said witnesses did not testify that they saw Islamovic tie anyone up on the bridge.
The verdict can be appealed.
