Bosanski Novi: SIPA arrested five persons for crimes against Bosniaks, searches at several locations

By order of the prosecutor from the Special Department for War Crimes of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, since the early morning hours, a large number of SIPA officers have been carrying out arrests and searches. Investigators of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH are on the ground coordinating the operation. A total of five suspects have been arrested, and searches are being conducted at four locations in Bosanski Novi. The MUP building, which is under guard and control of SIPA, is also being searched, reports the news agency Patria, as stated by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.

The activities are being carried out within the framework of a case in which the Prosecutor's Office of BiH is investigating war crimes committed in this area against victims of Bosniak nationality during 1992. 

Arrested are: Ljuban Babić (1962), Ranko Balaban (1959), Rajko Karlica (1968), Mirko Odžić (1960), Milenko Brčin (1963). 

They are under investigation and suspected of having committed the criminal offense of crimes against humanity. 

As a consequence of the committed crimes, there was a persecution of almost the entire population of Bosniak nationality from this area, and the murder of 27 civilians of Bosniak nationality from the villages of Agići and Ekići in the Maslovare local community was also committed. 

During the persecution, torture, abuse, illegal detention, looting of property, infliction of serious physical and mental injuries were committed, and the population was largely expelled to the territory of Croatia. 

A large number of displaced persons have not returned to their pre-war homes to this day and live in displacement throughout BiH, Europe, and the world. 

Given the scope of the operation, additional SIPA teams have been engaged to provide support. Searches are being conducted in the MUP building, the municipal building, the headquarters of the Public Utility Company, and one other location, in order to find archival material and evidence related to the mentioned period, as well as to uncover actions taken to conceal evidence. 

After the arrest, the suspects will be handed over to the prosecutor in charge, who will question the suspects and then decide on filing a motion for detention or prohibition measures in accordance with the law, as stated by the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.