PARAVAC, BJELOŠEVIĆ, SAVIĆ Acquitted of crimes in Doboj and Teslić, appeal possible

(Patria) - The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has acquitted Borislav Paravac, Andrija Bjelošević, and Milan Savić of charges for crimes against humanity in the area of Doboj and Teslić in a first-instance verdict.

By the verdict, Paravac, Bjelošević, and Savić were acquitted of murders, unlawful detentions of Bosniak and Croat civilians, enforced disappearances, physical abuse, torture, looting, and destruction of religious buildings.

Paravac and Bjelošević were acquitted of charges for participation in a joint criminal enterprise.

Of the accused, only Bjelošević attended the pronouncement of the first-instance verdict.

Paravac was charged in his capacity as the President of the Crisis Staff in Doboj, and Bjelošević and Savić as the Head and Deputy Head, respectively, of the Doboj Public Security Centre.

Milan Ninković, a former member of the Crisis Staff in Doboj, was also previously charged in this case, but the proceedings against him were separated due to illness.

The trial began in April 2016.

An appeal against this verdict is permitted to the Appellate Panel of the Court of BiH.