OSA Inspector Branislav Trišić Arrested for War Crimes

Acting on the order of a prosecutor from the Special Department for War Crimes of the BiH Prosecutor's Office, members of SIPA arrested four individuals in and around Bijeljina, including Branislav Trišić, also known as Brane, an inspector of the BiH Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA), reports the Patria News Agency.

In addition to Trišić, Zoran Bogdanović, an employee of the institutions of Brčko District of BiH, and Milan Đokić, also known as Mićo, and Ljubiša Ikić, both residing in Bijeljina, were arrested.

Simultaneously with the arrests, searches are being conducted at two locations, according to the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

The indicted individuals are under investigation by the Special Department for War Crimes and are suspected of participating, from 1992 to 1994, as members and command staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republika Srpska (MUP RS), Public Security Center (CJB) Bijeljina - Janja Police Station, in a widespread and systematic attack directed against the Bosniak population in the area of Janja and surrounding villages. 

They are suspected of unlawful detentions, searches, and arrests of the civilian Bosniak population in the Janja area and its surroundings. The unlawfully detained victims were tortured, abused, and beaten during this time, suffering severe bodily injuries. Three people died as a result of the abuse, and a significant number of victims suffered physical and psychological injuries that left permanent consequences on their health. 

The suspects are under investigation for personally and directly participating, alone and with others, in the unlawful detentions, imprisonments, beatings, and abuse of civilians of Bosniak nationality. 

Due to the persecution of the population, with daily abductions, detentions, torture, and abuse, an atmosphere of constant fear for the lives and safety of the Bosniak population was created, forcing the Bosniak population to leave the Janja area by paying sums of money to VRS members for passage towards the territory controlled by the Army of BiH or to Serbia. The population that remained in Janja was taken for forced labor, to the "Batković" camp, or used as human shields in battles on Majevica.

The suspects will be handed over to the acting prosecutor during the day, who will question the suspects and then make a decision on initiating a proposal for determining custody or prohibiting measures in accordance with the law, the BiH Prosecutor's Office announced.