Court increases sentence for man convicted of Bosnia crimes

BELGRADE The Court of Appeal in Belgrade has increased the sentence of Dragan Jovic to 20 years in prison for war crimes committed in Bijeljina in 1992. The sentence of Alen Ristic has been commuted from 12 to ten years in prison, while Zoran Djurdjevic's sentence to 13 years in prison has been confirmed, the court released in a statement. Court increases sentence for man convicted of Bosnia crimes The three were charged with war crimes against civilians, murder, robbery and multiple rapes in Bijeljina, eastern Bosnia, committed on June 14, 1992, while Jovic also killed a man. The Court of Appeal extended Jovic's sentence, because the victims said that he demonstrated ruthlessness and brutality while committing the criminal acts and killed one person only on suspicion that he was arming "the Muslim side". Ristic's sentence has been reduced, because he was a young adult when the crime was committed, and also bearing in mind medical documentation he submitted with his appeal. In his case, said the court, the purpose of punishment can be achieved by handing down a less severe sentence. Tanjug

Court increases sentence for man convicted of Bosnia crimes

The three were charged with war crimes against civilians, murder, robbery and multiple rapes in Bijeljina, eastern Bosnia, committed on June 14, 1992, while Jović also killed a man.

The Court of Appeal extended Jović's sentence, because the victims said that he demonstrated ruthlessness and brutality while committing the criminal acts and killed one person only on suspicion that he was arming "the Muslim side".

Ristic's sentence has been reduced, because he was a young adult when the crime was committed, and also bearing in mind medical documentation he submitted with his appeal.

In his case, said the court, the purpose of punishment can be achieved by handing down a less severe sentence.