On 12 July 2018, following the completion of trial in the criminal case of Dragan Marjanović et al., the Panel of Judges of Section I for War Crimes at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered a judgment in relation to Dragan Marjanović, Saša Gavranović, Vitomir Dević, Zoran Šljuka, Dragomir Kezunović, who were all found guilty of Crimes against Humanity under Article 172(1)h) - Persecution, as read with the deprivation of life under Subparagraph a) of the same Article, in conjunction with Articles 29 and 180(1) of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The accused were found guilty that between early June 1992 and 30 June 1992, in the framework of a widespread and systematic attack launched by military, paramilitary and police forces of the so-called Serb Republic of BiH, subsequently Republika Srpska, against Bosniak and Croat civilians in the Teslić municipality, Dragan Marjanović, Commander of the 1st Platoon of the Teslić Brigade Military Police of the Republika Srpska Army (VRS); and Saša Gavranović, Vitomir Dević, Zoran Šljuka, Dragomir Kezunović and D.S., as members of the VRS military police - Operative Group Doboj, at the same time members of the military arm of the military-police formation referred to as “Miće“, knowing of the attack, and that their actions constituted its integral part, as members of the military-police formation „Miće“ and the military police of the Teslić Brigade, committed the persecution of Bosniak and Croat civilians from the Teslić municipality on ethnic and religious grounds by killing 28 Bosniak and Croat civilians.
The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under Article 285 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the CPC BiH), and under Articles 39, 42 and 48 of the CC BiH, imposed the sentences as follows:
- the accused Dragan Marjanović, to 17 (seventeen) years of imprisonment,
- the accused Saša Gavranović, to 17 (seventeen) years of imprisonment,
- the accused Vitomir Dević, 17 (seventeen) years of imprisonment,
- the accused Zoran Šljuka, 17 (seventeen) years of imprisonment,
- the accused Dragomir Kezunović, to 14 (fourteen) years of imprisonment.
Pursuant to Article 56 of the CC BiH, the time the accused spent in pre-trial custody under decisions issued by this court shall be credited towards their sentence of imprisonment.
Pursuant to Article 188(4) of the CPC BiH, the accused are relieved of the obligation to reimburse the costs of the criminal proceeding.
Pursuant to Article 198(2) of the CPC BiH, the injured parties, as well as victims’ relatives, are advised to pursue their compensation claims in civil proceedings.
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Following the pronouncement of judgment, pursuant to Article 138(1) of the CPC BiH, the Court has issued a decision to order the accused Dragomir Kezunović into custody on special custody grounds under Article 132(1)a) of the CPC BiH, which under this decision may last for no longer than 9 (nine) months following the arrest.
Pursuant to Article 126.b(5) of the CPC BiH, as read with Article 126(2) of the Code, the Court has issued a decision to extend the duration of travel ban against the accused Dragan Marjanović, Saša Gavranović, Vitomir Dević and Zoran Šljuka under Article 126(2) of the CPC BiH.
