The Third Instance Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina reduced the sentence for Suad Kapic from 17 to 12 years of prison for the crime committed in the territory of Sanski Most in 1995.
Ex-soldier Suad Kapic, convicted of murdering prisoners of war in Sanski Most in 1995, argued that his sentence should be reduced because he was only 17 when he committed the crime.
The Court of BiH discontinues the execution of the sentence against Suad Kapic after the Constitutional Court of BiH quashed a second instance verdict, under which he was sentenced to 17 years in prison for crimes in the Sanski Most area.
Testifying at the trial for war crimes committed in Bosanska Krajina, two Prosecution witnesses recognize the three indictees in the courtroom, saying the men examined and mistreated them while they were held in detention.
The Defence of Suad Kapic, who has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for crimes committed in the Sanski Most area, will file an appeal with the third-instance chamber, which has the power to overturn the verdict.
Drastic revisions in prison sentences between first and second instances are either a sign that the appeal process if working well, or a sign that something is very wrong with the judicial system.
Representatives of the war crime strategy preparation working group do not want to speak about what will happen now that a working group member has resigned.
The Appellate Chamber renders a decision ordering the revocation of the first instance verdict, which acquitted Suad Kapic of all charges contained in the indictment.
The State Prosecution calls upon the Appellate Chamber to revoke the verdict of release in the case of Suad Kapic, while the Defence does not agree with this.