THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - The UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Tuesday sentenced Bosnian Serb Army officer Momir Nikolic to 27 years in prison for his involvement in the massacre of more than 7,000 Muslims during the war
in the eastern Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica in July 1995.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - The UN war crimes tribunal in The
Hague on Tuesday sentenced Bosnian Serb Army officer Momir Nikolic
to 27 years in prison for his involvement in the massacre of more
than 7,000 Muslims during the war in the eastern Bosnian enclave of
Srebrenica in July 1995. #L#
Nikolic was visibly surprised and shaken by the verdict, which is
the highest sentence the tribunal has so far given to an accused who
pleaded guilty.
Nikolic reached a plea agreement with the tribunal on May 9 this
year, pleading guilty to persecution as a crime against humanity,
while the prosecutors dropped the charge of genocide.
The mass murder and expulsion of the population of Srebrenica were
committed with a degree of brutality and amorality not previously
seen during the war, Judge Liu Daqun said.
Liu said that the 600 days the accused had spent in custody would
count as part of the sentence.
Nikolic was in charge of security in the Bratunac Brigade of the
Bosnian Serb Army. He admitted that he had recommended locations
for detention and execution of prisoners and had played an active
role in the successful completion of the operation.
Months after the executions, Nikolic coordinated efforts to
transfer the bodies and destroy the evidence, Judge Liu said.
(hina) vm sb