40 years in prison for Milovanović for the murder of Ivo Pukanić, Amsterdam acquitted

The Appellate Court in Belgrade has finally acquitted Sreten Jocić, known as Joca Amsterdam, of the charge of organizing the murder of Croatian journalist Ivo Pukanić, but confirmed the sentence of 40 years in prison for Željko Milovanović, who was convicted as the direct perpetrator of the murder, the spokesperson of the Belgrade court Mirjana Piljić told Hina, as reported by the Patria news agency. 

Milovanović was sentenced in absentia to 40 years in prison in Zagreb back in 2013 for planting the explosive that killed Pukanić, but the Appellate Court considers there is no obstacle for the Belgrade court to declare its jurisdiction since Milovanović has not served that sentence in Croatia.

Ivo Pukanić and his associate Niko Franić were killed on October 23, 2008, in an explosion in Zagreb.

The court acquitted Sreten Joca Amsterdam Jocić of the charges of organizing Pukanić's murder, while the verdict against Milenko Kuzmanović for aiding in the commission of the crime was overturned and sent back for retrial.