Former Croatian Defence Council fighter Ivan Zelenika was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for the inhumane treatment of Bosniak civilian detainees in Mostar during wartime.
Ivan Zelenika testified in his own defense at the cantonal court in Mostar. He said he had never heard of Almir Lalic or his father, Muhamed Hamo Lalic, both civilians he allegedly abused.
Defense witnesses testifying at the Ivan Zelenika trial told the cantonal court of Mostar that the defendant always acted correctly towards Heliodrom detention camp prisoners.
A defense witness testifying at the Ivan Zelenika trial said he didn’t see or hear of former Heliodrom detention camp prisoner Almir Lalic being mistreated by the defendant. Almir Lalic himself also testified at the trial.
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.