Stevan Todorovic, former Chief of Police in Bosanski Samac, has been transferred from The Netherlands, to Spain to complete his ten year prison sentence.
He was sentenced on July 31, 2001, by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
According to the Rules of the Tribunal, he is credited with time served in detention, since September 27, 1998.
Todorovic admitted war crimes during the Bosnian War and his Guilty Plea, remorse and cooperation were considered as mitigating circumstances in the sentencing.
He was sentenced on July 31, 2001, by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
According to the Rules of the Tribunal, he is credited with time served in detention, since September 27, 1998.
Todorovic admitted war crimes during the Bosnian War and his Guilty Plea, remorse and cooperation were considered as mitigating circumstances in the sentencing.
Originally, he had pleaded
"Not Guilty" on all counts, but after over two years in detention, he changed his plea to "Guilty" on one count of persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds, as a crime against humanity.
The other charges were then dropped to expedite the conclusion of the case.
The crimes committed in Bosanski Samac are indicative of a primary characteristic of the Bosnian war – the policy of "ethnic cleansing". This is generally interpreted by the ICTY as persecution.
Quoting from the Second Amended Indictment:
" The crime of persecutions was
"Not Guilty" on all counts, but after over two years in detention, he changed his plea to "Guilty" on one count of persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds, as a crime against humanity.
The other charges were then dropped to expedite the conclusion of the case.
The crimes committed in Bosanski Samac are indicative of a primary characteristic of the Bosnian war – the policy of "ethnic cleansing". This is generally interpreted by the ICTY as persecution.
Quoting from the Second Amended Indictment:
" The crime of persecutions was
perpetrated, executed and carried out by or through the following means:
(a) the forcible take-over by Serb forces of cities, towns and villages inhabited by Bosnian Croat, Bosnian Muslim and other non-Serb civilians;
(b) the unlawful arrest, detention or confinement of Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Muslims and other non-Serb civilians on political, racial or religious grounds and not for their protection and safety;
(c) the cruel and inhumane treatment of Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Muslims and other non-Serb civilians including beatings, torture, forced labour assignments and confinement under inhumane conditions;
(a) the forcible take-over by Serb forces of cities, towns and villages inhabited by Bosnian Croat, Bosnian Muslim and other non-Serb civilians;
(b) the unlawful arrest, detention or confinement of Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Muslims and other non-Serb civilians on political, racial or religious grounds and not for their protection and safety;
(c) the cruel and inhumane treatment of Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Muslims and other non-Serb civilians including beatings, torture, forced labour assignments and confinement under inhumane conditions;