Five war crimes suspects arrested

Serbian police (MUP) officers last night arrested five persons suspected of having committed war crimes, it was confirmed in Belgrade. War Crimes Prosecution spokesman Bruno Vekaric told Beta news agency this morning that arrests were connected to the crimes in Sjeverin, eastern Bosnia. Five war crimes suspects arrested Vekaric also said that the sixth suspect in the case is already in jail, after he was found guilty for committing war crimes in the town of Sjeverin. MUP now has the remaining five. The victims of the crime allegedly committed by the group were at least 23 Roma civilians, killed on July 11, 1992. Before they were murdered, the civilians were imprisoned, beaten and tortured. Men were forced to have homosexual intercourse, while a granddaughter and her grandfather were forced to have oral sex. The women were raped, the spokesman detailed the prosecution's case. Three of the women were kept in the villages of Malesic, Petkovic and Drinjaca, where they were "raped on a daily basis" after the murders of the others took place. The 22 victims were taken to a pit in the village of Hamzici, where the suspects used knives and guns to kill them, Vekaric said. The identities of those arrested last night remains undisclosed. Yesterday, the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic told Tanjug that his office was preparing to open three new war crimes cases. Two cases concern war crimes committed in Croatia and one in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war in the 1990's, he said. Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was briefed on the cases, Vukcevic added. Vekaric told Tanjug on Thursday that the crimes were committed in eastern Bosnia and western Slavonia. Among the victims were more than 30 children, women and elderly people, he said.

Five war crimes suspects arrested

Vekarić also said that the sixth suspect in the case is already in jail, after he was found guilty for committing war crimes in the town of Sjeverin.

MUP now has the remaining five.

The victims of the crime allegedly committed by the group were at least 23 Roma civilians, killed on July 11, 1992.

Before they were murdered, the civilians were imprisoned, beaten and tortured. Men were forced to have homosexual intercourse, while a granddaughter and her grandfather were forced to have oral sex. The women were raped, the spokesman detailed the prosecution's case.

Three of the women were kept in the villages of Malešić, Petković and Drinjača, where they were "raped on a daily basis" after the murders of the others took place.

The 22 victims were taken to a pit in the village of Hamzići, where the suspects used knives and guns to kill them, Vekarić said.

The identities of those arrested last night remains undisclosed.

Yesterday, the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević told Tanjug that his office was preparing to open three new war crimes cases.

Two cases concern war crimes committed in Croatia and one in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war in the 1990's, he said.

Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz was briefed on the cases, Vukčević added.

Vekarić told Tanjug on Thursday that the crimes were committed in eastern Bosnia and western Slavonia.

Among the victims were more than 30 children, women and elderly people, he said.