Bosniak Ex-Soldier’s Sentence for Mutilating Bodies Increased

The appeals chamber of the Bosnian state court on Thursday upheld a prosecution appeal and increased Suad Smajlovic's sentence from one year and two months in prison to three years.

Under the first-instance verdict in September 2018, Smajlovic was found guilty of mutilating the dead bodies of Serb civilians by shooting at them in the summer of 1992, but was acquitted of participating in their murders.

The court on Thursday also confirmed the acquittal of Smajlovic's fellow Bosnian Army ex-soldier and co-defendant Amir Salihovic.

Slihovic was cleared of unlawfully arresting nine people following a military operation in Zalazje on July 12, 1992 and taking them away to an unknown location, after which they were never seen again.

The proceedings against a third defendant, Izet Arifovic, were discontinued in February this year due to his death.

Under the first-instance verdict, he had been sentenced to ten years in prison for the murders of civilians in the Srebrenica and Bratunac areas.

Thursday's verdict cannot be appealed.