Cases in trial or on appeal against verdict

Factual allegations in the Indictment:

The Indictment alleges that since June 1991 the accused Kondić, as a member of the Executive Committee of the SDS Municipal Organization in Ključ, the Commander of the Ključ Police Station (SJB), a member of the Ključ Crisis Headquarters and a member of the Ključ Defence Council, together with other members of the SDS as well as with the military and civilian authorities in the Ključ Municipality, took part in the perpetration of criminal offences against Croat and Bosniak civilians. On 18 November 1991, the accused Kondić undertook activities aimed at stopping a convoy of refugees from Slunj, Republic of Croatia. On this occasion, the police under the command of Vinko Kondić took out from the bus and deprived of liberty able-bodied Croat male civilians, 30 of them at least. Having been tortured in the Police Station (SJB) Ključ, the civilians were transported into the previously formed camp „Stara Gradiška“. The Indictment further alleges that during the period from 27 May 1992 to late August 1992 the military and the police searched the villages and settlements in Ključ, Sanica and other villages inhabited by the Bosniak population. On this occasion, civilians were unlawfully arrested and taken to the detention facilities of the elementary schools in Sanica and „Nikola Mačkić“ in Ključ, the former railway station in Sanica and the Police Station (SJB) Ključ. During the unlawful arrest at least 1161 men were escorted by the police and transported to the Manjača Camp. Immediately upon the arrival in the Camp, one civilian died due to the punching injuries sustained, while two more civilians died in the Manjača Camp. The Indictment further alleges that on 10 July 1992 the military entered into the villages and hamlets of the Ključ Municipality. On this occasion, all detained men were taken to the premises of the Elementary School in Donji Biljani. Some of these men were put on buses, taken into an unknown direction and killed, so that on 10 July 1992 at least 219 persons were killed.

Counts of the Indictment:

The Indictment charges Vinko Kondić with the following crimes:

- Crimes Against Humanity under Article 172(1)(h) (persecution) of Criminal Code of BiH (CC BiH) in conjunction with the following items:

a)      Depriving another person of his life (murder),
b)      Extermination,
d)      Deportation or forcible transfer of population,
e)      Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law,
f)        Torture,
i)        Enforced disappearance of persons, and
k)      Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to physical or mental health.

- Organising a Group of People and Instigating the Perpetration of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes under Article 176(2)(1)(4) of CC BiH.

All in conjunction with Article 180(1)(2) (individual and command criminal responsibility) and Article 29 (Accomplices) of CC BiH.

Course of the proceedings:

On 6 December 2007 the Court issued a decision ordering Vinko Kondić into custody. The Court confirmed the Indictment on 4 March 2008. At a plea hearing held on 7 April 2008 the Accused pleaded not guilty.