91 years of prison handed down for crime in Štrpci

(Patria) - After a full seven years of trial, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered a first-instance verdict sentencing seven former members of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) to a total of 91 years in prison for their involvement in the abduction of 20 civilians from a train in Štrpci on February 27, 1993, who were killed in the Višegrad area, while Luka Dragičević was acquitted of issuing the order to take the civilians away.

Obrad and Novak Poluga, Petko Inđić, Radojica Ristić, Dragan Šekarić, Oliver Krsmanović, and Miodrag Mitrašinović were each sentenced to 13 years in prison for participating as co-perpetrators in the murder of 20 civilians who were taken from a train operating on the Belgrade–Bar line. With this verdict, Luka Dragičević was acquitted of the charge that, as commander of the Second Podrinje Brigade from Višegrad, he issued the order to take the civilians away.

By court decision, Obrad and Novak Poluga, Inđić, Ristić, and Mitrašinović were ordered into custody for a maximum duration of nine months, while the restrictive measures against Luka Dragičević were lifted.

The State Prosecutor's Office confirmed yesterday the arrest of the accused to ensure their presence at the verdict and requested an extension of custody in the event of a conviction.

Luka Dragičević, Obrad Poluga, Novak Poluga, Dragan Šekarić, Oliver Krsmanović, Petko Inđić, Radojica Ristić, and Miodrag Mitrašinović were charged with the murders of 20 passengers in Višegrad abducted on February 27, 1993, from a train in Štrpci.

According to the indictment, Dragičević was the commander of the Second Podrinje Light Infantry Brigade of the VRS, Inđić was the commander of the Intervention Company of this brigade, and the other accused were members of this company.

Earlier, Boban Inđić was also among the accused in this case, but the proceedings against him were separated, while Krsmanović and Šekarić are serving sentences in separate cases brought against them. The proceedings against Vuk Ratković, previously charged with the crime in Štrpci, were terminated due to his death.

Mićo Jovičić, charged with involvement in the abduction and murder of passengers from the train in Štrpci in 1993, reached a plea agreement with the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

The indictment in this case was filed in May, and the trial began in October 2015.

An appeal is possible against this verdict.

(detektor)