Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitutional Court rejected an appeal by Ivan Medic, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for mistreating civilian prisoners at the Dretelj detention camp near Capljina.
The Bosnian state court reduced former Dretelj detention camp guard Ivan Medic’s prison sentence for crimes against Serb civilian prisoners from 14 to 12 years on appeal.
Former Croatian Defence Council military policeman Edin Sakoc denied raping a female prisoner in Pocitelj in July 1992.
Edin Sakoc told the state court in Sarajevo on Friday that he was never alone with the victim and did not rape her.
The state prosecution filed an indictment against former fighters Miroslav Hrstic, Ivan Medic, Miljenko Nogolica and Tonco Raic for crimes against Serb victims in the Dretelj detention camp in 1992.
Five individuals suspected of war crimes committed in the Capljina area were arrested in the Ljubuski, Siroki Brijeg, Capljina and Mostar areas, as per a warrant issued by the state prosecution.
Four former members of the Croatian Defence Forces were sentenced to a total of 24 years in prison for abusing Serb prisoners at the Dretelj detention camp and in Mostar in 1992.
The Bosnian state court will issue a verdict in the case of Ivan Zelenika, Srecko Herceg, Edib Buljubasic, Ivan Medic, and Marina Grubisic-Fejzic on April 14. All of them are charged with committing crimes against civilians in Herzegovina.
Ivan Medics defense said in their closing statement today that Medic did not commit crimes against civilians in Dretelj. Medics defense attorney, Emina Hasanovic, requested that the court hand down a not guilty verdict.
The former deputy commander of Croatian Defence Forces wartime Dretelj detention camp admitted that he abused Serb prisoners in 1992 and begged for their forgiveness.
Srecko Hercegs defense has requested that he be acquitted of charges for crimes allegedly committed against Bosnian Serb civilians in Dretelj during the Bosnian war.