War Crimes Acquittals of Bosnian Ex-Policemen Challenged

The Bosnian prosecution on Tuesday appealed against the first-instance verdict acquitting former policemen Jadranko Saran, Samir Sabic and Zijad Kadic of unlawfully detaining civilians, as well as murder and inhumane treatment at several detention facilities in Bosanska Krupa between September 1995 and July 1996.

They were also cleared of unlawfully postponing detainees' release.

Prosecutor Ozrenka Neskovic called for the verdict to be quashed and a new trial held.

The defence meanwhile called for the appeal to be rejected and the acquittal verdict upheld.

The indictment alleges that the crimes were committed while Saran was the chief of the police's Public Security Station in Bosanska Krupa, Sabic was commander of the police department in Jasenica and Kadic was a policeman.

Kadic's lawyer Zlatan Nanic argued the first-instance chamber's decision was correct, adding that the majority of prosecution witnesses failed to mention his client.

"The prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has not proved that my client committed the crime with which he is charged. I propose that the appeal be rejected and the first-instance verdict confirmed," Nanic said.

The court's appeals chamber will deliver its decision at a later stage.