The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has handed down a first-instance verdict sentencing former Bosnian Serb general Rade Garic to 20 years in prison for the persecution of Bosniaks in the area of the eastern Bosnian town of Vlasenica in 1992 and for crimes against Srebrenica residents in July 1995, BIRN BiH reported.

According to the indictment, Garic, as a member of the reserve police force in Vlasenica committed murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, kidnappings and other crimes in Vlasenica in 1992.

It also says that in July 1995, as commander of the Vlasenica Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, he entered the school premises in Luka with members of the platoon, confiscated money and other valuables, and participated in the beating of Srebrenica prisoners.

Garic's trial began in October 2018. He has been in detention since March this year.

The ruling can be appealed.