Crime in Trusina: Bojadžić sentenced to 15, Hodžić to 12, and Memić to 10 years in prison

At the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina today, a first-instance verdict was pronounced against five former members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina charged with crimes committed in Trusina near Konjic, reports a reporter from the Bosnian news agency Patria.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced Nedžad Hodžić to 12 years in prison, and he was acquitted of charges for crimes against civilians.

Mensur Memić was sentenced to 10 years, while Nihad Bojadžić was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with time served in custody to be credited.

Dževad Salčin and Senad Hakalović were acquitted of the charges.

The trial for the crime in Trusina lasted five years, and this case also involved Zulfikar Alispago, the former commander of the "Zulfikar" unit, but the proceedings were separated due to his illness.

Vasvija Vidović, attorney for Nihad Bojadžić, stated that she will certainly file an appeal because the defense of Bojadžić believes that a series of irregularities occurred in this process, including the involvement of the executive branch in the process itself and the concealment of certain documents by the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- We will certainly file an appeal, and that is what I can say at this moment. It seems that the Court did not appreciate our complaints - Vidović emphasized.

The attorney for Mensur Memić, who felt unwell during the pronouncement of the verdict, causing a brief interruption in Judge Željka Marenić's presentation, was not in the mood to give any statements to journalists.

In the explanation of the verdict, the judge stated that the Court established beyond any reasonable doubt the responsibility of Mensur Memić, Nedžad Hodžić, and Nihad Bojadžić for the criminal acts of murder of prisoners of war and civilian victims of war.

Incidentally, the pronouncement of the verdict was attended by family members of the accused and a large number of friends, and the families of Hakalović and Salčin did not hide their happiness over the acquittal.

Hodžić and Bojadžić were issued restraining orders, and their personal documents were confiscated, so they cannot cross the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We recall that in the attack by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on this village, 15 civilians were killed and six members of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), who had previously surrendered, were executed.

So far, Edin Džeko and Rasema Handanović, also former members of the "Zulfikar" unit, have been finally convicted for the crimes in Trusina.

Džeko was sentenced to 13 years in prison, while Handanović was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, after concluding a plea agreement, NAP writes.