FOUR SUSPECTS OF WAR CRIMES AGAINST CIVILIANS, COMMITTED IN THE AREA OF ČAPLJINA, DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY UPON THE ORDER OF THE BIH PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

This morning, acting upon the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the instructions given by the assigned Prosecutor, police officers of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) deprived four persons of their liberty, as these persons are suspected to have committed the criminal offense of War Crimes against Civilians in the territory of the Municipality of Čapljina.

The following suspects were deprived of liberty:

-   Nikola Zovko, born on 19 October 1958 in Čapljina,

-   Petar Krndelj, born on 08 June 1960 in Metković,

-   Krešo Raič, born on 05 October 1956 in Stolac, and

-   Ivica Čutura, born on 31 January 1960 in Počitelj.

The suspect Ivica Čutura is charged with acting together with persons known to him and unlawfully depriving Bosniak civilians of their liberty and taking them to Gabela camp, in July of 1993, in the area of the Municipality of Čapljina.

Other suspects are charged as follows: Nikola Zovko as the Chief of the Police Station in Čapljina, Petar Krndelj as the Commander of the Police Station in Čapljina and Krešo Raič as the Military Police Platoon Commander are charged with acting in violation of the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by acting together with other members of the Civil Police of the Police Station in Čapljina and Military Police in an operation at Čeljevo Ada led by Petar Krndelj, who was present there, and capturing three unarmed Bosniak civilians and then killing them at the very location where they captured them. In the same action, they severely injured and captured another Bosniak person, who was then taken to the Police Station in Čapljina, where he was subjected to physical mistreatment by unknown members of the civil police all that time. As a result of his wounding and injuries sustained, this person was subjected to severe physical suffering for a longer period of time.

These persons deprived of liberty are suspected of the commission of the criminal offense of War Crimes against Civilians, as referred to in Article 173, Paragraph 1, items c) and e) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in conjunction with Article 180, Paragraphs 1 and 2 and Article 29 of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.   

Subsequent to their deprivation of liberty, the suspects will be questioned and then it will be decided whether to file a motion for custody or a motion seeking prohibiting measures in accordance with the law.