THREE MOSTAR CROATS RECEIVE SUSPENDED SENTENCES

MOSTAR, March 20 (Hina) - After a five-hour public discussion and evidentiary procedure, the Mostar Court of First Instance on Thursday pronounced suspended sentences to three Croats, officers of the west Mostar police, for having overstepped their official authority and for maltreatment in the incident in Mostar on 10 February. Zeljko Planinic was sentenced to a one-year suspended jail sentence which he does not have to serve if he does not commit another crime within two years. Ivan Hrkac and Bozo Peric were both sentenced to a six-month suspended jail sentence which they do not have to serve on condition that they do not commit another criminal act within one year. The court acquitted Zeljko Anicic and Jarko Livaja. All of the men have the right to file appeals within eight days. Present at the trial were officials of the International Police Task Force (IPTF) and Mostar Regional Office of the International Community High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina. (hina) lm jn 201817 MET mar 97