International police issues warrant for Bosnian national charged with war crimes

NEWS 21.01.201914:06
AFP

Interpol issued an international warrant for Zoran Stupar, a Bosnian national charged with a crime against humanity allegedly committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) confirmed on Monday.

The warrant has been confirmed after Stupar failed to respond to the State Court's summon.

Stupar's attorney Danilo Mrkaljevic told BIRN that the court ordered detention for his client but that he was unaware of his whereabouts.

“I do defend him, but I don't know where he is. I don't know if a warrant for him has been issued but I know about the detention order,” said Mrkaljevic.

Bosnian Court confirmed the indictment against Stupar in November 2018 under the charges of crimes against humanity that were allegedly committed in the eastern municipality of Vlasenica in the period April to September 1992.

According to Bosnia's Prosecutor's Office, Zoran Stupar, Simo Stupar, Zoran Tesic and Goran Tesic, all members of Bosnian Serb forces, were directly involved in alleged attacks on villages and settlements inhabited by the Bosniaks and killing of at least 16 Bosniak victims, persecution of civilians, including minors as well as the detainment in concentration camp ‘Susica’ and premises of the Vlasenica Public Security Centre.

The indictment said Simo Stupar, Zoran Stupar and Goran Tesic committed the alleged crimes as members of the Vlasenica Public Security Centre, while Zoran Tesic was a member of the Bosnian Serb's army at that time.

Simo Stupar, Zoran Tesic and Goran Tesic pleaded not guilty in December last year.