Global perspective Human stories

UN tribunal indicts two Serbs for crimes against humanity

UN tribunal indicts two Serbs for crimes against humanity

The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has indicted two former officials of Serbia's State Security Service for crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war in the murder, persecution and deportation of non-Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia from 1991 to 1995.

The indictment, confirmed on 1 May and released in The Hague today, charges that Jovica Stanisic, 52, and Franko Simatovic, also known as "Frenki," 53, with murder, persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds, deportation and inhumane acts, including forcible transfer.

The two, who worked in the State Security Service (DB) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, “planned, ordered, committed or otherwise aided and abetted the planning, preparation or execution of persecutions of Croats, Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats and other non-Serbs," according to the indictment.

It adds that they participated in a joint criminal enterprise aimed at the forcible and permanent removal of the majority of non-Serbs, principally Croats, Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They face four counts of crimes against humanity and one count of violations of the laws or customs of war.