Đerahović and Šarić acquitted of charges for crimes in Zenica

The Cantonal Court in Zenica acquitted Sejad Đerahović and Jasmin Šarić, former members of the Army of RBiH, of war crimes charges, reported BIRN, according to the BH News Agency Patria.

Đerahović, a former officer, and Šarić, a former member of ARBiH, were acquitted of charges that on June 16, 1992, in the village of Bukovica (municipality of Zenica), they participated in the physical abuse of Anđelko Božić and his sons Nedeljko and Veseljko. Anđelko Božić succumbed to his injuries, and his sons suffered severe injuries.

Nermin Tešnjak, the presiding judge, stated that the indictment was based solely on the testimonies of the injured parties, which the Court deemed inconsistent and unconvincing, and therefore could not serve as a basis for a guilty verdict against the accused.

- In case of doubt, the Court rules in favor of the accused - emphasized Tešnjak, stressing that the injured parties changed their testimonies given during the investigation and before the Court, despite giving them within a short period.

Tešnjak said that the Trial Chamber has no doubt that the Božić brothers and their father were taken and mistreated, but the Prosecution failed to prove that the accused committed these acts.

According to the presiding judge, the Prosecution also failed to provide evidence of the existence of an armed conflict, and therefore, evidence of the elements of the crime of war crimes is also missing.

An appeal against this verdict is possible to the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), reports NAP.