In 2003, the local Bosnian Serb politician was convicted and sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment by the Trial Chamber for persecutions of non-Serb civilians in the municipality of Bosanski Samac between 17 April 1992 and 31 December 1993. The non-Serb civilians were detained and confined under inhumane conditions, lacking sufficient space, food or water and were subjected to torture including sexual assaults, the extraction of teeth and threat of execution.
The Appeals Chamber found that Simic was not informed that he was being accused of participating in a joint criminal enterprise until the Prosecution had finished presenting its case, which rendered the trial unfair, the ICTY said
The Appeals Chamber found that the re-characterisation of the Simic's criminal conduct required an adjustment of his sentence, reducing it to fifteen years, the ICTY reported.