Karajic: Indictment Confirmed

04 January 2008  

The Court of BiH confirms an indictment against the former Army of BiH member charged with crimes committed in the Bihac area.

The Prosecution's indictment against Suljo "Hodza" Karajic, former commander of the Second Military Police Squad with the 505th Knights Motorised Brigade of the Fifth Corps of BiH Army (ABiH), has been confirmed by the Court of BiH.


The indictment charges Karajic with having committed war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war.


It is alleged that, between August 1994 and February 1995, Suljo Karajic took part in the armed conflict between the Fifth Corps of ABiH and the National Defence of the Western Bosnia Autonomous Region
(NDWBAR) in the wide area of Bihac town, Norther Bosnia. It alleges that Karajic "ordered and committed the deprivation of liberty and inhumane treatment of prisoners of war and civilians".


The indictment alleges that on August 4, 1994, Karajic asked one of the captured members of the NDWBAR, who were detained in the basement of "Radoc" motel in Buzim, to come and see him. After that, the indictee fired a few bullets at the prisoner and killed him.


The indictment further alleges that, in December 1994, the indictee "performed ungrounded imprisonment of civilians", who, he thought, supported the autonomy of Western Bosnia. After that, he exposed them to inhumane treatment and mental torture and killed them. In addition, Karajic is alleged to have ordered his subordinates, members of the Military Police Squad, to capture civilians.


The plea hearing is scheduled on January 11.


The Western Bosnia Autonomous Region and its National Defence were established by Fikret Abdic in September 1993. This act was contradictory to the provisions of the Republic of BiH Constitution.
In 2005 Abdic was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment in Croatia, whose citizenship he holds.


The State Investigation and Protection Agency arrested Karajic on October 17, 2007. He has been held in custody since then.


The Prosecution of BiH has filed a custody extension motion for Karajic "due to the possibility that he might attempt to influence witnesses, accessories and concealers".


"The crime was committed in an outrageous manner. Citizens remember that the indictee was ready to do anything in order to achieve his goals," said Prosecutor Munib Halilovic, adding that 17 witnesses, examined in the course of the investigation, have asked for protective measures.


Defence attorney Hasan Veladzic objected to the Prosecutor's request, claiming that Karajic, who is 80 per cent disabled, cannot endanger witnesses.


"Over the past ten years, all those witnesses have been examined four times. In that period, the indictee was able to find out who they were and what they said during the investigation. He has not tried to influence any of them. And, if the witnesses are now protected, the indictee cannot influence them in any way," Veladzic said.


The Court decided than Karajic will stay in custody until the end of the trial.