The UN war crimes tribunal sentenced a Bosnian Croat former militia commander to 12 years in jail today for leading a 1993 attack on a Bosnian Muslim village in which at least 31 civilians were killed.
Former Bosnian Croat Commander, Ivica Rajic, stands as he is sentenced to 12 years imprisonment at the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague today. Photo by Michel Porro/Getty Images
Ivica Rajic pleaded guilty last year to wilful killing, inhumane treatment, appropriation of property and extensive destruction. Prosecutors agreed to drop six other charges against him as part of the plea bargain.
"The sentence should reflect that the crimes were committed on a large scale and were of a particularly violent nature and caused severe pain to the victims and their relatives," Judge Christine van den Wyngaert said in a Web cast of the hearing.
The judge said the tribunal had accepted as mitigating factors the fact that Rajic had pleaded guilty and expressed "real and sincere remorse", contributing to reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia and saving the court time.
Rajic, 48, looked downcast and nodded as the sentence was read out. He had admitted to leading an attack on the central Bosnian village of Stupni Dol in October 1993. The Bosnian Croat soldiers under his command forced Bosnian Muslims from their homes, robbed them of valuables and killed 31 civilians.
After the guilty plea, the prosecution and defence recommended a sentence of 12 to 15 years in jail.
Rajic had originally pleaded not guilty in June 2003, when he was handed over to the Hague tribunal. He was arrested in April that year after spending years in hiding.
Rajic changed his name to Viktor Andric in December 1993, but the tribunal referred to him by his original name.