Bosnia’s State Court pronounced the first instance verdict, on Tuesday, in the Predrag Bastah case, finding the accused guilty of committing crimes against humanity against Bosniak and other non-Serb civilians in the Municipality of Vlasenica in 1992, Anadolu Agency reported.

According to the Criminal Code of BiH, the accused was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while the previously imposed sentence of long-term imprisonment of 22 years was imposed by a final judgment of the Court of BiH on 4 February 2010, so the accused was sentenced to a single sentence of long-term imprisonment of 35 years, the Court of BiH announced.

The time spent on serving the sentence according to the previous final verdict shall be included in the sentence imposed on the accused, as well as the time spent in custody, the Court added.

Bastah was found guilty of being part of a widespread and systematic attack by the military, paramilitary and police forces of the so-called Serb Republic of BiH against Bosniak civilians and other non-Serbs in Vlasenica municipality, from April 21, 1992, until the end of September 1992. According to the verdict, he was aware of such an attack and for taking part in it as a member of the RS Interior Ministry reserve in Vlasenica, when he persecuted Bosniak civilians on political, national and religious grounds, thus participating in a joint plan and contributing to the common goal of depriving others person of life (murders).