PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF BIH SIX PERSONS SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING WAR CRIMES IN ČEMERNO – ILIJAŠ IN 1992 WERE ARRESTED

These are former members of the Territorial Defense and the Army of R BiH, suspected of war crimes committed against at least 30 Serb victims in the Ilijaš area on 10 June 1992.

Pursuant to the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, SIPA officers have located, identified and deprived of liberty the following suspects in the Ilijaš and Kakanj area:

1. Teufik Turudić, born in 1960 in Kakanj,

2. Mirsad Bešlija, born in 1964 in Ilijaš,

3. Nusret Bešlija, born in 1962 in Ilijaš,

4. Mirzet Bešlija, born in 1968 in Sarajevo,

5. Hamdija Spahić, born in 1960 in Ilijaš,

6. Senad Sikira, born in 1959 in Kakanj.

The suspects are under investigation for participating, while acting in their capacity of the Commander and members of the structures of the TD and the R BiH Army from Kakanj, Ilijaš and Breza, in the attack of 10 June 1992 on the village of Čemerno- municipality of Ilijaš inhabited by ethnic Serb population.

During the attack, war crime was committed in which about 30 Serbs were killed. The victims were of both sexes as there were about 10 women among them, the youngest victim among them was 16 and the oldest was more than 80 years old.

The crime in Čemerno is one of the most serious crimes committed against the victims of Serb ethnicity in the territory of Ilijaš and the surrounding area.

The suspects are charged with the following criminal offenses:

- War Crimes against Civilians under Article 173 of the CC BiH;

- War Crimes against Prisoners of War under Article 175 of the CC BiH;

- Organizing a Group of People and Instigating the Perpetration of War Crimes under article 176 of the CC BiH;

- Unlawful Killing or Wounding of the Enemy under Article 177 of the CC BiH;

- Violating the Laws and Practices of Warfare under Article 179 of the CC BiH.

Following the deprivation of liberty, the suspects will be brought to the Assigned Prosecutor who will examine them, and then make a decision on the motion for custody or prohibiting measures as well as other activities in accordance with the law.