Zoran Vukovic, convicted by the High Court in Podgorica for war crimes against civilians in Foca, has not served a single day in prison, nor have three others convicted for murdering three members of the Klapuh family. In 2020, Vukovic even served as a polling station committee member for the SDS during local elections in Foca. Deeply disappointed by their freedom, the sole survivor of the family, Ferid Klapuh, now seeks to give his loved ones a dignified burial, believing their remains are in Montenegro, Detektor writes.
Fifteen minutes from the Scepan Polje border crossing, through the Piva River canyon, lies the “Obrad Cicmil” bridge in Pluzine. For Ferid Klapuh, this is the first time since the war he has visited the site where his father, mother, and sister were killed.
“Janko Janjic approached the back seat of the car where my father was and shot him in the head. Radomir Kovac killed my mother the same way, while my sister managed to run out of the car. Zoran Vukovic caught up with her in the tunnel near the bridge and killed her there,” Klapuh said, who was in Sarajevo at the time of the murders.
Janjic was killed during an arrest attempt
This account comes from a 1996 verdict in Podgorica sentencing Zoran Vukovic, Janko Janjic, Radomir Kovac, and Zoran Simovic in absentia for the murders of Klapuh family members Hasan, Ferida, and Sena. The victims were deceived with promises of safe passage from Foca to Podgorica in exchange for money.
These former members of the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS) were each sentenced to 20 years in prison, and it was established that they committed the crime in July 1992 as members of the “Dragan Nikolic” Special Unit. However, they never served their sentences, and warrants were issued for their arrest. Janjic was killed in 2000 during an SFOR arrest attempt in Foca, while he was detonating a hand grenade.
“War criminals are free, and no one is arresting them. It’s horrifying what is happening. For 30 years, I have been trying to resolve this issue: to ensure that war criminals are arrested and prosecuted, either in Montenegro – since they were convicted in absentia – or by transferring the case to the jurisdiction of the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). However, this has not been done so far. These war criminals are still living normal lives, moving around as if nothing happened,” says Klapuh.
Milomir Kovac was also charged with the crime, but the case against him was dismissed due to his death.
For failing to report the crime and its perpetrators, Vidoje Golubovic was sentenced to eight months in prison, based on whose testimony the indictment was raised. He was the only one present at the trial and spent eight months in custody, which was counted toward his sentence.
In a separate case at The Hague, Radomir Kovac was convicted for enslaving, raping, and abusing women and girls in Foca. He was found guilty of raping and humiliating three victims, selling one to another soldier, and sentenced to 20 years. After serving two-thirds of his sentence, he was released and returned to Foca. Vukovic was sentenced to 12 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl.
Furthermore, it was reported that both now live in Foca and work for a private company.
Three years ago, Nebojsa Vukanovic, a representative in the National Assembly of RS (NARS), recorded Kovac working as a security guard on the Bistrica hydroelectric project.
In 2021, the Court of BiH rejected the request of the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro to extradite Kovac, citing his in absentia trial.
Comparing personal details from Vukovic’s indictment with data from the Foca Municipal Election Commission – Decision on the appointment of members of polling committees for the 2020 local elections – it was confirmed that Zoran Vukovic was appointed as an SDS representative on the “Center 3” polling committee.
Vukovic declined two interview requests, and Kovac did not want to comment.
Bodiroga about Vukovic
Ognjen Bodiroga, SDS president in Foca, said he was not in office during Vukovic’s appointment to the polling committee and did not know who nominated him.
“What I know is that individuals who have served their sentences are not barred from serving as polling committee members. At that time, he could legally serve; the law didn’t prohibit it. As long as I’m president, the law will not be violated,” Bodiroga stated.
In March 2024, the High Representative for BiH imposed amendments to the Election Law, which prohibits individuals convicted of war crimes from holding any electoral roles.
Photo: Detektor
