Verdict for crimes against Serbs in Bosnia quashed

The Supreme Court of Norway has quashed Mirsad Repak’s verdict in the case of war crimes against Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1992. The Norwegian law for this kind of crime cannot be applied retroactively, the court explained. Verdict for crimes against Serbs in Bosnia quashed Repak (44), who has been living in Norway since 1993 and has Norwegian citizenship since 2001, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for war crimes against Serbian civilians in Dretelj prison camp in 1992. The Supreme Court of Norway has, however, quashed the verdict, explaining that the law on war crimes came into effect in 2005 in Norway and that it cannot apply to the crimes committed in 1992. Repak could still be convicted of “illegal detention”, which is one of the counts of the indictment. “The Supreme Court of Norway is expected to make the decision next year,” the suspect’s lawyer said. Repak stood trial for crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and rapes. He was accused of committing crimes against 18 Serbian civilians in the Dretelj prison camp in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina since May until October 1992 while he was a member of a Croatian defense forces’ paramilitary unit. However, he was acquitted of the most serious crimes – torture and rapes due to lack of evidence. The court also ordered Repak to pay EUR 44, 300 worth of compensation to a group of ten victims. The trial in Oslo began in August of 2008 and he pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment. This was the first war crimes trial in Norway since the end of the World War II. A witness from Belgrade testified at the trial via video-conference.

Verdict for crimes against Serbs in Bosnia quashed

Repak (44), who has been living in Norway since 1993 and has Norwegian citizenship since 2001, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for war crimes against Serbian civilians in Dretelj prison camp in 1992.

The Supreme Court of Norway has, however, quashed the verdict, explaining that the law on war crimes came into effect in 2005 in Norway and that it cannot apply to the crimes committed in 1992.

Repak could still be convicted of “illegal detention”, which is one of the counts of the indictment.

“The Supreme Court of Norway is expected to make the decision next year,” the suspect’s lawyer said.

Repak stood trial for crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and rapes. He was accused of committing crimes against 18 Serbian civilians in the Dretelj prison camp in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina since May until October 1992 while he was a member of a Croatian defense forces’ paramilitary unit.

However, he was acquitted of the most serious crimes – torture and rapes due to lack of evidence. The court also ordered Repak to pay EUR 44, 300 worth of compensation to a group of ten victims.

The trial in Oslo began in August of 2008 and he pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment.

This was the first war crimes trial in Norway since the end of the World War II.

A witness from Belgrade testified at the trial via video-conference.