Four HVO members indicted for crimes against Bosniaks in Stolac

The Prosecutor of the Special Department for War Crimes of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH has filed an indictment against:

- Pažin Mileta, born on 02.04.1961 in Hodovo, Stolac municipality, where he resides, a citizen of BiH and the Republic of Croatia,

- Raguž Mirko, born on 23.07.1948 in Njivice, Stolac municipality, where he resides, a citizen of BiH,

- Marković Ivica, born on 10.05.1959 in the village of Borojevići, Stolac municipality, where he resides, a citizen of BiH, and

- Krešić Vido, born on 15.09.1956 in the village of Borojevići, Stolac municipality, where he resides, a citizen of BiH.

The accused are charged with, during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the period of armed conflict between HVO and the Army of RBiH, from July 13 to August 1993, in the area of Stolac municipality, as members of HVO, and accused Pažin Mile and Raguž Mirko also as commander and deputy commander of the Civil Protection of Stolac, committing the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population, reports the Patria news agency.

As part of a wide and systematic attack by HVO on the Bosniak population in the wider area of Stolac municipality, civilians, including women, children, the elderly, and several men, were illegally deprived of liberty from Pješevac, Đulića mahala, Kaplan mahala, Humačkići, Zilići, and other surrounding places. They were first detained and unlawfully held in the detention center of the Primary School "Branko Šotra" in Crnići, Stolac municipality, and then forcibly transferred to detention facilities in Đulića and Kaplana mahalas, where they stayed in inhumane conditions, subjected to psychological and physical abuse.

Accused Pažin Mile and Raguž Mirko managed the detention facilities and were responsible for the conditions of the detainees, both in terms of living conditions and their safety.

Detainees were held in inhumane conditions, tortured, robbed, beaten, and abused in extremely humiliating ways. Due to the abuse, many detainees suffered severe physical injuries and did not receive adequate medical assistance, and they were also forced to perform forced labor.

The detention and abuse left severe and lasting consequences on the victims of the committed crimes.

After being held in the detention facilities in Đulića and Kaplana mahala and the VP home in Stolac, all arrested persons of Bosniak nationality, after their money and other valuables were confiscated and stolen, were crammed into trucks and taken to the area of Blagaj, Mostar municipality, which was under the control of the Army of RBiH.

The indictment has been forwarded for confirmation to the Court of BiH, it was announced from the Prosecutor's Office of BiH.