Indictment filed against four members of the Army of BiH for war crimes

(Patria) - Prosecutor of the Special Department for War Crimes has filed an indictment against four individuals for war crimes against VRS prisoners of war in the Teočak area.

As stated by the BiH Prosecutor's Office, the indictment was filed against Dževad Avdičević, known as Babak, born in 1964 in Teočak, Ahmed Hadžajlić, born in 1961 in Bijelo Polje, Montenegro, Muharem Efendić, born in 1946 in Bratunac, and Izet Ikanović, known as Kratelj, born in 1971 in Teočak.

"The accused are charged that during the war, as commanders and members of the Army of RBiH from the Teočak area and its surroundings, they acted contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions on the Protection of Prisoners of War, towards captured members of the VRS, which resulted in torture, abuse, beatings, and humiliating torture, as well as the murder of prisoners and the subsequent concealment of their remains," the BiH Prosecutor's Office stated.

The indictment states that the accused unlawfully and contrary to the provisions of international humanitarian law, acted towards captured members of the VRS, denied them the status of prisoners of war and registration in official records, and committed or enabled others to commit beatings, abuse, and torture of prisoners, causing them severe physical and mental injuries.

"After that, contrary to the Geneva Conventions, they organized a 'summary court' and public shooting and execution of two prisoners, whose remains were buried in previously dug graves, and after the committed crime, they hid the body of one of the murdered individuals and prevented the exchange of remains," the BiH Prosecutor's Office emphasized.

The prosecution will prove the allegations by calling 93 witnesses and experts and submitting more than 230 pieces of evidence.

A proposal for imposing prohibiting measures for the suspects has also been sent to the Court of BiH.