Prosecutor's Office of BiH: Hurić, Merkez, and Sejdić arrested

Acting on the order of a prosecutor from the Special Department for War Crimes of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, SIPA police officers early this morning arrested suspects in the area of Goražde and Sarajevo:

1. Merkez Ibru, born on 15.11.1942 in Foča, a citizen of BiH, employed as an active lawyer

2. Hurić Ešefa, born on 24.09.1958 in Goražde, a citizen of BiH, an active police officer, employed as the Police Commissioner of BPK

3. Sejdić Ahmeta, born on 02.01.1960 in Višegrad, a citizen of BiH.

These suspects are under investigation in two cases of the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, and are suspected of having committed war crimes against victims of Serb nationality in the Goražde area during 1992 and 1993, as high-ranking officials of police and military structures.

The aforementioned are under investigation and are suspected that Merkez Ibro and Hurić Ešef, in their capacity as commanders of the Public Security Station (SJB) Goražde, participated in the implementation of the orders of the Presidency of the Municipal Assembly (SO) Goražde and its president, regarding the concentration of the Serb population living in the Goražde area and the disarmament of the village of Bučje, and participated in the unlawful detention of the population of Serb nationality in the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Goražde.

They are suspected of planning, ordering, committing, aiding, and participating in the unlawful detention of more than 100 persons of Serb nationality, of both sexes and various age groups, including children, who were unlawfully detained by police officers and the SJB in the premises of the Police Station, as well as in other facilities.

Detained civilians were held in inhumane conditions in the said facilities for several months, until 1993. Dozens of people were held in a single room, in inhumane and unhygienic conditions, causing them great physical and mental suffering. As a consequence of the detention, poor conditions, and lack of medical assistance, two people died.

As a consequence of the committed crimes, the permanent displacement of the Serb civilian population from the said area occurred.

These suspects are under investigation for the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population under Article 173 of the Criminal Code of BiH.

Suspect Sejdić Ahmet is accused that during the war in BiH, in the territory of the municipalities of Rudo, Višegrad, and Goražde, from the beginning of July 1992 to mid-February 1993, in his capacity as commander of the First Višegrad Brigade of the Army of BiH, together with other members of the Army of BiH, violating the rules of international law, ordered, incited, aided, committed, or otherwise participated in the preparation, aiding, and commission of unlawful detention, relocation, and displacement, intentional infliction of severe physical and mental pain or suffering (torture), and inhumane treatment of dozens of civilians of Serb nationality and prisoners of war of the Army of Republika Srpska.

As a consequence of the committed crimes, the deaths of several persons occurred.

He is suspected that, although he knew or could have known, he did not prevent or punish his subordinates for intentionally inflicting severe physical and mental pain or suffering (torture) and inhumane treatment of these civilians and prisoners of war, and for the looting of civilian property.

Sejdić Ahmet is suspected of the criminal offenses of war crimes against the civilian population and war crimes against prisoners of war under Articles 173 and 175 of the Criminal Code of BiH.

In these cases, significant cooperation was achieved with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, the Public Security Center East Sarajevo, and within the case against Ahmet Sejdić, significant cooperation was achieved between the Prosecutor's Office of BiH and the Prosecutor's Office for War Crimes of Serbia.

After being arrested, the suspects will be handed over to the acting prosecutors, who will question them and then make a decision on proposing the imposition of pre-trial detention or prohibition measures in accordance with the law.