The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) handed down a first-instance verdict in which it sentenced five former members of the police to prison terms of two and three years each, for war crimes committed from 1992 to 1994 against the civilian population in Janja, while the others were acquitted.
Milan Djokic and Branislav Trisic were sentenced to three years each, and Zoran Tanasic, Zarko Milanovic and Mladen Krajisnik to two years each.
Savo Mrsic, Milivoje Cobic and Milan Markovic were acquitted of all charges.
The council found the five defendants guilty of war crimes against the civilian population for torturing Bosniak civilians, reclassifying the offense from the indictment as a crime against humanity committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack.
“The court did not find the existence of the elements of this criminal act,” said the chairwoman of the Council Zeljka Marenic, adding that a more detailed explanation will be in the written version of the verdict.
Djokic was found guilty on four sub-counts of the indictment that, in his capacity as the commander of the Station Department of the Militia (SOM) in Janja, he did not prevent others from abusing civilians brought in for questioning about weapons.
Trisic was convicted of beating three civilians with a metal rod and hands, and Tanasic of beating two civilians. The council found that Milanovic and Krajisnik each hit one civilian.
“The court found particularly mitigating circumstances on the side of the accused, which is why it imposed a sentence below the minimum prescribed by law,” said Marenic.
The five who were found guilty were ordered to prohibit them from leaving BiH and to report to the police. The accused Trisicdid not attend the sentencing.
The trial for this case began in June 2016, and the proceedings were separated in relation to the three defendants. Vlado Stjepanovic and Ljubisa Ikic have passed away, and Zoran Bogdanovic is not fit to stand trial due to illness.
An appeal to the Appellate Council of the Court of BiH is allowed for this verdict, Detektor reports.
E.Dz.
