OSIJEK, June 14 (Hina) - Milos Loncar, charged with war crimes against the civilian population, was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Osijek County Court on Friday.
OSIJEK, June 14 (Hina) - Milos Loncar, charged with war crimes
against the civilian population, was found guilty and sentenced to
10 years in prison by the Osijek County Court on Friday. #L#
Loncar, who lived in the nearby town of Jagodnjak, was accused of
having ordered artillery attacks on Osijek and its suburbs in the
period between September 1991 and May 1992, when a high number of
civilians were killed, while many sustained serious or lights
wounds. The attacks also caused substantial damage to civilian and
public buildings.
The trial chamber said the investigation and testimonies of
witnesses proved that the defendant Loncar, a member of the Serb
paramilitary units, had been part of the commanding chain and
relayed commands for artillery firing at Osijek and its suburbs.
The chamber believes that Loncar did not make decisions about the
targets of his own accord but did relay the orders and thus is held
responsible for the consequences of the attacks.
The time he spent in custody since September 2001 would be included
in the period which he should spend in prison.
Loncar's lawyer, Stevan Dobos, announced he would appeal against
the court's ruling. He said his client had not committed the crime
of which he was convicted.
(hina) ms