Sarić acquitted of committing genocide in Srebrenica

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina acquitted Goran Sarić in a first-instance verdict of the charge of genocide committed in Srebrenica.

“Based on the evidence presented, the Court could not establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused was aware of the genocidal intent of the main perpetrators,” said Staniša Gluhajić, the presiding judge of the Trial Chamber.

Sarić, the former commander of the Special Police Brigade, was acquitted of issuing orders and exercising control over his deputy Ljubomir Borovčanin – who was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Hague Tribunal for war crimes in Srebrenica – and of assisting members of the joint criminal enterprise (JCE) in the commission of genocide, which resulted in more than 7,000 killed and approximately 40,000 displaced persons.

In addition to the acts committed in the municipalities of Bratunac and Srebrenica, Sarić was acquitted of the charge of committing war crimes in the Zvornik area.

The Trial Chamber could not establish whether Sarić was a member of the command of the police forces staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska (MUP RS).

The trial of Sarić lasted about four years. An appeal against this verdict is possible, Detektor.ba reports, Patria adds.