INDICTMENT ISSUED AGAINST 5 PERSONS FOR WAR CRIMES COMMITTED IN MOSTAR AREA

A Prosecutor of the Special Department for War Crimes issued an indictment against the following persons:

1. Ćurić Enes, born on November 23, 1956 in Mostar, BiH citizen,

2. Demirović Ibrahim, aka "Hećim", born on February 27, 1955 in Mostar, BiH citizen,

3. Kreso Samir, born on June 26, 1964 in Mostar, BiH citizen,

4. Čopelj Habib, born on September 25, 1947 in Nevesinje, BiH citizen,

5. Kaminić Mehmed aka "Zaim", born on November 11, 1965 in Nevesinje, BiH citizen.

The accused are charged with having acted contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War in Mostar area in 1993, during the course of war in BIH and the conflict between the Army of BiH and HVO while acting in their capacities as members of the Army of BiH.

They are charged with war crimes committed against more than a hundred Croat victims including a large number of children, women, elderly persons as well as women in the advanced stage of pregnancy, who were all incarcerated in prison facilities in a place known as Potoci.

The indictment alleges that during their illegal incarceration the prisoners were tortured, beaten, abused, held in inhumane conditions, starved, forced to suffer inflictions of severe physical and mental injuries that have left lasting effects on the health of the victims; they were used as human shields and forced to work during the course of which several persons were killed.

The accused are charged with the criminal offense of War Crimes against Civilians under Article 173 of the CC BiH.

Along with the indictment, the Prosecutor submitted a proposed list of more than 40 prosecution witnesses and included more than 250 exhibits.

The indictment was forwarded to the Court of BiH for confirmation.