Ex- state security officials guilty in assassination case

The Higher Court has ruled that three high ranking officials of the former State Security (DB) agency were guilty of aiding an attempted assassination. The attempt on Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) leader Vuk Draskovic's life was made in 2000, in the Montenegrin coastal town of Budva. Ex- state security officials guilty in assassination case Former Belgrade DB Center head Milan Radonjic was sentences to eight years in prison today, while former DB service chiefs Stevan Basta and Ratko Romic will spend seven years in prison each. Judge Tatjana Sretenovic read out the verdict to state that a large body of evidence was presented in the case, which, according to her, influenced the trial's duration. She noted that the court's panel of judges unanimously found the three defendants guilty. "This is a grave criminal act," said the judge, and qualified the former DB officials' testimonies as "unconvincing". Vuk Draskovic told B92 after learning about the ruling passed today that he would not seek compensation from the state. He also expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the trial. The investigation found that a total of eight bullets were fired on Draskovic on June 15, 2000. Two bullets scratched him on both sides of the head, and he survived the attack with these minor injuries. Radonjic, Romic and Basta were indicted for providing advice to the assassins, and for gathering data in order to help "eliminate" Draskovic, as a political opponent of former President Slobodan Milosevic. Three former members of the the now disbanded Special Operations Unit (JSO) were previously put on trial as direct perpetrators of the failed assassination, and handed down jail sentences lasting several decades. Ratko Romic is seen in the courtroom on Tuesday (Tanjug) B92 Beta

Ex- state security officials guilty in assassination case

Former Belgrade DB Center head Milan Radonjić was sentences to eight years in prison today, while former DB service chiefs Stevan Basta and Ratko Romić will spend seven years in prison each.

Judge Tatjana Sretenović read out the verdict to state that a large body of evidence was presented in the case, which, according to her, influenced the trial's duration.

She noted that the court's panel of judges unanimously found the three defendants guilty.

"This is a grave criminal act," said the judge, and qualified the former DB officials' testimonies as "unconvincing".

Vuk Drašković told B92 after learning about the ruling passed today that he would not seek compensation from the state.

He also expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the trial.

The investigation found that a total of eight bullets were fired on Drašković on June 15, 2000. Two bullets scratched him on both sides of the head, and he survived the attack with these minor injuries.

Radonjić, Romić and Basta were indicted for providing advice to the assassins, and for gathering data in order to help "eliminate" Drašković, as a political opponent of former President Slobodan Milošević.

Three former members of the the now disbanded Special Operations Unit (JSO) were previously put on trial as direct perpetrators of the failed assassination, and handed down jail sentences lasting several decades.