Having completed the main trial, a Court Panel of Section I for War Crimes of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered a judgment in the case of Mile Pažin et al. finding the accused Mile Pažin guilty of the criminal offense of War Crimes against Civilians under Article 142(1) CC SFRY, so the 24(7) Panel of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, applying Articles 33, 38, 41, 42(2) and 43(1) CC SFRY, sentenced him to 1 (one) year and 6 (six) months of imprisonment.
The accused Mile Pažin was found guilty that during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the armed conflict between the Army of RBiH and the HVO in the territory of Stolac municipality, in violation of the rules of international humanitarian law, he committed inhumane treatment of a civilian, in his capacity as a member of the Croat Defense Council (HVO), between 20 June 1992 and 23 December 1995, and since 1 May 1993 also as Commander of the Stolac Civilian Protection Unit.
Pursuant to Article 284, Subparagraph c) CPC BiH, the accused Mile Pažin and Vide Krešić are acquitted of the charges that they committed the criminal offense of War Crimes against Civilians under Article 173(1) CC BiH as read with Article 180(1) and Articles 21 and 29 CC BiH; specifically the accused Mile Pažin by the acts described in Section 1 of the Acquittal – unlawful detention, the acts described in Sections 2 and 3 of the Acquittal, as a perpetrator – inflicting serious physical or mental pain or suffering on a person, the acts described in Section 4 a) and b) of the Acquittal – inhumane treatment, the acts described in Section 4c) of the Acquittal – pillaging, the acts described in Section 4. d) of the Acquittal – relocation of population, the acts described in Section 5 of the Acquittal – forced labor; and the accused Vide Krešić the acts described in Section 1 of the Acquittal – unlawful detention, and in Section 6 of the Acquittal – torture.
Pursuant to Article 188(4) and Article 189(1) CPC BiH, the accused are relieved of the obligation to cover the costs of the criminal proceeding.
Having delivered the judgment, the Panel lifted the prohibitive measures previously imposed on the accused Vide Krešić, specifically the travel ban under Article 126(2) CPC BiH, while the travel ban is still in place in relation to the accused Mile Pažin.
