News
FOUR PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY ON SUSPICION FOR WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN DRETELJ CAMP
22.02.2012. 15:42These suspects have been under investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH as suspects of war crimes committed during the war in BiH against Serb victims detained in the Dretelj camp in Čapljina.
They are suspected of Crimes against Humanity as referred to in Article 172 of the Criminal Code of BiH and War Crimes against Civilians as referred to in Article 173 of the Criminal Code of BiH.
Inter alia, in May 1992, as camp commanders, guards or members of HOS formations, they have allegedly committed war crimes against Serb civilians from the territory of Čapljina and other places who have been kept unlawfully detained in the Dretelj camp under inhumane conditions; there, these victims have been subjected to mistreatment, torture, beatings, rape and sexual abuse of both female and male detainees, and they have also been tortured in especially degrading manner.
Several persons died as result of this mistreatment and beatings, and some of the detainees have been taken out of their cells and have not been found since.
Having been deprived of liberty, these suspects will be handed over to the Prosecutor in charge of the case to be examined, whereupon the decision on filing a motion for custody will be rendered.
This announcement does not prejudice the outcome of the criminal proceedings and does not violate the principle of the presumption of innocence. A person shall be considered innocent of a crime until guilt has been established by a final verdict (Article 3, paragraph 1 of the CPC BiH).