The is the first war crimes sentence handed down by the State Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The panel of judges presided by Salem Miso concluded that the trial proved without a doubt that Maktouf had helped in the kidnapping of five Croat civilians from Travnik. The Croats were kidnapped by members of the Bosnian Army's El Moujahid unit, which comprised volunteers from Islamic countries.
The civilians were taken to a Mujahedeen camp in the Travnik area where they were abused and humiliated. One of them, Dragoljub Popovic, was beheaded.
Bosnian law envisages a minimum 10-year sentence for such crimes, but presiding judge Miso said five years' imprisonment was appropriate given that Maktouf did not take part in the kidnapping and abuse, but only helped in the execution of the crimes, and because he is a family man with three children.
Maktouf, who also holds Bosnian citizenship, has been in custody since June 2004. The State Court decided he should remain in custody until the verdict becomes final.
Prosecutor Johnatan Schmidt said he was satisfied with the decision, saying that the trial provided irrefutable information about the kidnappers and the killer of one of the victims. The killer's name is Abu Dzafer.
Maktouf's attorney Ismet Mehic announced he would appeal the ruling, saying the it was handed down in an entirely unlawful manner.