ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - The Zagreb County State Attorney's Office on Monday said it would discontinue further criminal proceedings against Esperanza Tambic de Bilanovic Sakic given that the pre-trial investigation did not confirm
suspicions that she was guilty of the war crimes against civilians she was charged with. Based on that decision, the Zagreb County Court investigating judge is obligated to terminate the investigation against Sakic as well as her detention. Extradited from Argentina last year at Croatia's request, Sakic, born 1926, was indicted of war crimes against humanity and international law by the Zagreb County Court. A member of Ustasha units, Sakic worked at the Stara Gradiska concentration camp from October 19, 1942 to early 1945. The implementation of Nazi and racial laws of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and legal regulations against political opponents at the camp between 1941
ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - The Zagreb County State Attorney's Office on
Monday said it would discontinue further criminal proceedings
against Esperanza Tambic de Bilanovic Sakic given that the pre-
trial investigation did not confirm suspicions that she was guilty
of the war crimes against civilians she was charged with.
Based on that decision, the Zagreb County Court investigating judge
is obligated to terminate the investigation against Sakic as well
as her detention.
Extradited from Argentina last year at Croatia's request, Sakic,
born 1926, was indicted of war crimes against humanity and
international law by the Zagreb County Court.
A member of Ustasha units, Sakic worked at the Stara Gradiska
concentration camp from October 19, 1942 to early 1945.
The implementation of Nazi and racial laws of the Independent State
of Croatia (NDH) and legal regulations against political opponents
at the camp between 1941 and 1945 led to the torture and murder of
civilians - Jews, Gypsies, Serbs, Croats and others.
A three-month investigation, during which 26 witnesses were
questioned, did not confirm claims that Esperanza (Nada) Sakic,
together with camp commanders and officials, had physically abused
and tortured women inmates.
The witnesses questioned during the pre-trial investigation were
themselves imprisoned at the Stara Gradiska camp at the time Sakic
served there as a member of Ustasha units. They spoke about
distressing events and the suffering of inmates, but did not charge
Sakic with the committed crimes. They accused other members of
Ustasha units, and by name, some camp commanders.
It was neither confirmed that the defendant had held any of the
commanding posts in the camp. Sakic arrived in the camp as a 16-
year-old and the unit she belonged to did not have any special
organisation status or powers.
(hina) jn rml