Arrested by SIPA: Slobodan Karagić suspected of murdering Bosniak civilians and raping minors

Acting on the order of a prosecutor from the Special Department for War Crimes of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, SIPA police officers, early this morning, arrested suspect Slobodan Karagić, known as “Karaga”, born on 21.10.1952 in Doboj, a citizen of BiH, the BiH Prosecutor's Office announced, reports the Patria News Agency.

Suspect Karagić is under investigation by the BiH Prosecutor's Office and is suspected of having acted contrary to the provisions of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War as the leader of the “Crvene beretke” (Red Berets) unit, which operated within the CSB Doboj, during 1992.

The suspect is accused of participating as the leader of the “Crvene beretke” unit in the attack and occupation of the city of Doboj in early May 1992, when members of the said unit carried out arrests of civilians of Bosniak and Croatian nationality, who were imprisoned in a camp located in military hangars near the company “Bosanka”, in the settlement of Usora in Doboj, by order of the suspect.

He is also suspected of the murder of at least 12 victims of Bosniak nationality who were taken from the “Spreča” prison in Doboj in May 1992 and taken in an unknown direction, after which all traces of them were lost, and they were subsequently executed at a certain location, which the suspect attended as the commander of the “Crvene beretke” unit.

Suspect Karagić Slobodan is also accused of personally, alone and with other persons, committing the rape of two minor victims of Bosniak nationality in the summer of 1992.

Furthermore, the suspect is under investigation for the destruction of a mosque in the settlement of Miljkovac in Doboj, which was destroyed by an explosive device in May 1992.

The suspect is also accused of carrying out illegal arrests and detentions of civilians of Bosniak and Croatian nationality in the Teslić area during June 1992, together with other members of the “Crvene beretke” unit, after which they were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, and some civilians were killed or are listed as missing.

Suspect Karagić Slobodan is under investigation and suspected of the criminal offense of crimes against humanity and war crimes against the civilian population. After his arrest, the suspect will be brought before the acting prosecutor, who will question the suspect and then make a decision on further actions, according to the statement.