Fmr BiH Army Commander sentenced to three and a half years for war crimes

Durakovic was found guilty of failing to take necessary measures to punish subordinates after members of his brigade attacked positions of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) on February 14, 1993, in the Pisanica area and the nearby village of Sapici, where, the court noted, there were no legitimate military targets.

During the assault on Sapici, Serb civilian Darinka Pjevic was killed, while the homes of Rajko and Milos Pjevic were set on fire.

“The panel established beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused had knowledge of the crime committed,” presiding judge Dragan Vukajlovic stated, adding that evidence showed “a complete absence of any action” by Durakovic to address the incident.

The court also ordered that Durakovic remain in custody pending appeal. He was exempted from covering court costs, while the victims were directed to pursue compensation through civil proceedings.

The trial began in October 2024. The verdict may be appealed before the Appellate Division of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BIRN reported.