Cases in trial or on appeal against verdict

Documents 10.07.2008. Vrdoljak Ivica First instance 29.01.2009. Vrdoljak Ivica Second instance All documents are in PDF format. In order to view them you need Adobe Acrobat reader.

Factual allegations in the indictment:  

The indictment alleges, that the accused Vrdoljak in late June 1992, in the building Silos in Polje, Derventa Municipality, as a member of Croatian Defence Council (HVO) inhumanely treated detained Serb civilians. As alleged in the indictment, on an undetermined date in June 1992, the accused took out four (4) civilians and together with other persons bashed them with his hands and kicked them with his feet. As futher alleged in the indictment, the accused Vrdoljak together with other persons, in the evening hours in July 1992, in the warehouse of Department Store „Beograd“ in the neighbourhood of Tulek in Bosanski Brod, repeatedly took the detainees into a dark room and beat them.

Counts of the indictment:

Ivica Vrdoljak is charged with War crimes against civilians pursuant to Article 173(1) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina in conjunction with item c), which includes, inter alia, intentional infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon a person, all in conjunction with Article 180 (1) (individual criminal responsibility).

Course of the proceedings:

The indictment was confirmed on 21 February 2008.  At a plea hearing held on 4 March 2008 the Accused pleaded not guilty.

Main trial commenced on 6 May 2008.

On 10 July 2008, The Court of BiH handed down the first-instance Verdict, finding the accused guilty of the criminal offence of War Crimes against Civilians, and sentenced him to five (5) years of imprisonment.

On 29 January 2009, The Appellate Panel of the Section I for War Crimes of the Court passed the second instance verdict, by which the appeal filed by the Defense Counsel of the accused was refused as unfounded and the first-instance Verdict of 10 July 2008 confirmed. The Trial Panel found Ivica Vrdoljak guilty of the criminal offence of War Crimes against Civilians and sentenced him to five years of imprisonment.