A year in prison for attempting to join the Islamic State

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced Senad Koštić to one year in prison for attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria.

The verdict was handed down based on a plea agreement that Koštić reached with the BiH Prosecutor's Office in the middle of last month. Koštić expressed remorse for committing the criminal offense.

According to the verdict, Koštić traveled by bus from Velika Kladuša to Sarajevo at the beginning of January, and the following day arrived in Podgorica. He then flew to Istanbul, after which he was arrested by Turkish border police. He was soon extradited to BiH.

The trial chamber, due to his poor financial situation, exempted Koštić from paying the costs of the proceedings. The measures prohibiting him from leaving BiH were extended until he is sent to serve his one-year sentence.

So far, Emin Hodžić and Fatih Hasanović have pleaded guilty to participating in fighting in Syria, after which they were each sentenced to one year in prison. Mirel Karajić, accused of fighting on the side of ISIL, is currently negotiating a plea with the BiH Prosecutor's Office, BIRN reported, as carried by Patria.