Sarajevo issues Orić indictment

The Cantonal Prosecution in Sarajevo raised an indictment Friday against Naser Oric, charging him with extortion and illegal possession of firearms. The prosecution believes that Oric, a war-time commander in the Bosnian Muslim army in the Srebrenica area, “issued serious threats to a person”, and in this way illegally obtained some EUR 120,000. Sarajevo issues Oric indictment The Bosnian law sees this act as extortion – a criminal violation that carries a prison sentence of one to ten years. The second count of the indictment charges Oric with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. A blanket legal ban on acquiring weapons or ammunition is in force for all Bosnian citizens. Oric was arrested in Sarajevo on Oct. 3, along with his former wife Zahida and Dzehid Kadvic. Several hundred thousand Bosnian convertible marks and a large cache of weapons were also seized during the arrest operation. Our reporter in Sarajevo says that “many who have seen Oric as a hero are stupefied with his arrest, torn between disbelief and huge disappointment”. This is the second time that Oric, who was an officer with Serbia’s MUP in the late 1980s and early 1990s, will face the judges. Previously, he was charged and found guilty on a war-crimes indictment issued by the Hague Tribunal. However, his two-year sentence for “failing to prevent the murder and inhumane treatment of Serb prisoners” in the Srebrenica area was overturned on an appeal, when in July this year the court cleared him of all charges.

Sarajevo issues Orić indictment

The Bosnian law sees this act as extortion – a criminal violation that carries a prison sentence of one to ten years.

The second count of the indictment charges Orić with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

A blanket legal ban on acquiring weapons or ammunition is in force for all Bosnian citizens.

Orić was arrested in Sarajevo on Oct. 3, along with his former wife Zahida and Džehid Kadvić.

Several hundred thousand Bosnian convertible marks and a large cache of weapons were also seized during the arrest operation.

Our reporter in Sarajevo says that “many who have seen Orić as a hero are stupefied with his arrest, torn between disbelief and huge disappointment”.

This is the second time that Orić, who was an officer with Serbia’s MUP in the late 1980s and early 1990s, will face the judges.

Previously, he was charged and found guilty on a war-crimes indictment issued by the Hague Tribunal.

However, his two-year sentence for “failing to prevent the murder and inhumane treatment of Serb prisoners” in the Srebrenica area was overturned on an appeal, when in July this year the court cleared him of all charges.