Crimes in Višegrad: 18 Years in Prison for Oliver Krsmanović

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina sentenced former member of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) Oliver Krsmanović to 18 years in prison for crimes in Višegrad in 1992, reports the Patria news agency.

He was found guilty of crimes against humanity on eight counts of the indictment for participation in murders, enforced disappearances and other inhumane acts against the Bosniak population. He was acquitted on four counts of the indictment for rape, murder and torture.

The Trial Chamber concluded that Krsmanović participated in the abduction from a bus and the murder of 16 civilians from Sjeverin (Serbia) on 22 October 1992, and that in June of the same year he assisted in the murder of eight Bosniak men who were taken from the Varda factory in Višegrad.

He was also found guilty of participating in several cases in May and June in the enforced disappearances of the Bosniak population, in which a total of 13 persons were taken away. The bodies of a number of victims were later found. According to the verdict, he committed most of these crimes with Milan Lukić, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Hague Tribunal for crimes in Višegrad.

The Chamber also convicted Krsmanović for torturing a civilian in Višegrad, as well as for participating in the beating of another civilian at the Rasadnik camp in Rogatica in September 1995. According to the first-instance verdict, the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not prove beyond reasonable doubt Krsmanović's participation in the burning of about 80 civilians on Bikavac in June 1992.

"The participation and role of the accused have not been fully clarified," said Darko Samardžić, the presiding judge of the Trial Chamber, explaining the verdict. The Chamber acquitted Krsmanović of the charge of raping protected witness OK-14 at the "Vilina vlas" hotel, because the victim stated that she was not sure that the accused was among the persons who raped her.

He was also acquitted of the charge of sexual abuse at "Vilina vlas", as well as for torturing civilians imprisoned in the Uzamnica barracks and setting fire to the Careva Mosque in Višegrad. "We consider that the sentence is proportionate to the gravity of the crime and the role of the accused... The Chamber found no mitigating circumstances. The fact that he is a family man is negligible compared to the crimes. At no point did he express opposition but continued to participate in the crimes," Samardžić explained.

An appeal against the verdict is allowed. Krsmanović was ordered to house arrest, and the sentence will include the two and a half years he spent in custody until December 2013, when he was released to defend himself while free under restrictive measures.

Krsmanović's trial on this indictment began in January 2012, and in mid-September his trial in a separate case should begin, in which he and nine other persons are charged with the abduction of passengers at Štrpci and their murder, reports Birn.