Indictment for War Crimes against Bosniaks and Croats in Donji Vakuf

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Prosecutor of the Special Department for War Crimes has filed an indictment against: Jovan Šatara, born in 1957 in Travnik, a citizen of BiH, Boško Savković, born in 1956 in Šipovo, a citizen of BiH, Sekula Šišić, born in 1945 in Donji Vakuf, a citizen of BiH, Nenad Tanasic, born in 1967 in Donji Vakuf, a citizen of BiH, previously convicted for war crimes, Boško Bilić, born in 1956 in Donji Vakuf, a citizen of BiH, Zdravko Balaban, born in 1955 in Travnik, a citizen of BiH, Jordan Ilić, born in 1962 in Bugojno, a citizen of BiH.

The accused are charged with committing the criminal offense of crimes against humanity under Article 172 of the Criminal Code of BiH, during the war and armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the widespread and systematic attack by the VRS, police, and paramilitary formations on the civilian population of Bosniak and Croat nationality in the area of Donji Vakuf, in the spring and summer of 1992.

They are accused of participating, in their capacity as commanders, chiefs, and members of the police and army, in the unlawful detention of approximately 150 victims, civilians of Bosniak and Croat nationality, in several facilities, where they subjected them to torture, abuse, beatings, inhumane treatment, infliction of physical and mental injuries, and torture in extremely humiliating ways, which resulted in the deaths of several persons and permanent and severe physical and mental injuries to a large number of detained persons.

The accused are also charged with the forced abduction of several persons in an unknown direction, after which all trace of them was lost. Furthermore, the accused Ilić is also charged with the rape and sexual abuse of one victim, who was subjected to multiple rapes and abuse, during which her minor child was also present on one occasion.

The Prosecution will prove the allegations of the indictment by calling 84 witnesses, including witnesses with special protection measures, and by submitting hundreds of pieces of evidence.