Duraković acquitted of war crimes in Čajniče by final verdict

(Patria) - The Appellate Chamber of the State Court, in a retrial, acquitted Ramiz Duraković, former commander of the 43rd Drina Brigade of the Army of RBiH, of war crimes in the Čajniče area.

Duraković was acquitted of failing to take measures to punish perpetrators after members of the 43rd Drina Brigade attacked the positions of the Army of Republika Srpska on February 14, 1993, in the Pisanica area and the village of Šapići, which had no military targets. During the attack, civilian Darinka Pjević of Serb nationality was killed in Šapići, and the houses of Rajko and Miloš Pjević were set on fire.

"The Chamber determined that the Prosecution has not proven the guilt of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt for the actions he is charged with," said the presiding judge of the Appellate Chamber, Amela Huskić, explaining that the acquittal was due to a lack of evidence on decisive facts.

For the Appellate Chamber, it is not disputed that a crime occurred in Šapići, nor that the accused Duraković commanded the operation.

"However, none of the evidence presented indicates that information about the killing and burning of houses reached the accused, either directly or indirectly," stated Judge Huskić.

By the Court's decision, Duraković's pre-trial detention was lifted.

He was exempted from paying court costs, while the injured parties are referred to civil proceedings.

The trial of Duraković began in October 2024.

The Appellate Chamber ordered a new trial for Duraković after overturning the first-instance verdict from October last year, by which he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

No appeal is allowed against this verdict, writes Detektor.