News in English     | 28.03.2019. 16:36 |

Mile Puljić acquitted of charges of war crimes against prisoners in Mostar area

FENA Press release

SARAJEVO, March 28 (FENA) - Former Croat Defense Council (HVO) battalion commander Mile Puljić was acquitted on appeal of committing crimes against humanity by allowing the abuse of prisoners in the Mostar area in 1993 and 1994.

The appeals chamber of the Bosnian state court on Thursday acquitted Mile Puljić, former commander of the Second Battalion of the Croat Defense Council’s Second Brigade, of crimes against humanity, BIRN reports.

Puljić was cleared of allowing his subordinates to take detainees from the Heliodrom prison camp in the Mostar area to the front lines, where they were made to do forced labor and used as human shields.

He was also cleared of allowing his subordinates to participate in forced disappearances and beatings.

Explaining the verdict, presiding judge Mirko Božović said the state prosecution had not proved the charges against Puljić.

“It remains unclear who deployed the detainees who did forced labor on the front lines after having been brought there from the detention camp. Based on statements given by some witnesses, it can be determined that they were taken out by prison guards, as well as by the military police, over whom the defendant had no control,” Božović said.

Puljić was acquitted under a first-instance verdict in May last year, but the prosecution filed an appeal and a retrial was held.

Thursday’s verdict cannot be appealed.

(FENA) S. R.

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