A Croatian court has sentenced a retired 70-year-old Yugoslav National Army (JNA) general to a prison term for ordering the destruction of the Peruca dam in 1993.

The County Court in Split sentenced retired General Borislav Djukic to nine years in prison for ordering the mining and destruction of the dam. Djukic was commander of a JNA motorized brigade and Krajina Serb paramilitary units.  

The court heard that the mining of the dam inflicted some 17.5 million Euros of damages on the Croatian power company. The dam was damaged by power company workers managed to prevent its complete destruction and the flooding of areas downstream from Peruca.  

“Djukic planned and organized the destruction of the dam with the aim of flooding an area populated by 50,000 people. A total of 30 tonnes of explosives were placed on the foundations of the dam and he ordered the explosives activated damaging the dam, bridge, tower and the power company building. The tragedy was prevented by power company workers,“ the judge said at the sentencing.  

Djukic was indicted with his superiors Ratko Mladic, Mile Novakovic and Branko Korica. Mladic is standing trial in the Hague, Djukic is in jail in Croatia and Novakovic and Korica are deceased.  

Djukic, who was arrested in Montenegro in July 2015, has also been indicted for ordering attacks on civilians in the Sibenik area.