Mejakić et al. fr

Country of proceedings: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Context of crimes: Former Yugoslavia (Prijedor)
Date: 2006 - present
Keywords: Crimes against humanity (murder, illegal detention, torture, rape/sexual violence, persecution, inhuman acts)

Case no.  X-KR-06/200

Court documents
14-07-2006 - Indictment
30-05-2008 - First instance: Part 1 / Part 2
16-02-2009 - Second Instance

Presentation of the case
On 14 July 2006, the Trial Panel of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) confirmed the indictment against Željko Mejakić, Momčilo Gruban, Duško Knežević and Dušan Fuštar, in which they are charged with crimes against humanity. The accused had previously been in detention of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which transferred the case to BiH on 9 May 2006.

The indictment alleges that the accused directly participated in mistreatments and persecutions of the non-Serb civilian population of the Prijedor municipality between 30 April 1992 and the end of that year. It is alleged that more than 7,000 non-Serb civilians were systematically captured, taken and arbitrarily confined at Omarska, Keraterm and Trnopolje camps in accordance with a plan for the permanent removal of the non-Serb population. The detainees were allegedly held in inhumane conditions and subjected to grave physical, psychological and sexual mistreatment. Željko Mejakić was the Chief of Security and de facto Camp Commander of Omarska Camp. Momčilo Gruban was a commander of one of three guard shifts at the Omarska camp. Dušan Fuštar was allegedly the commander of one of three guard shifts in the Keraterm camp. Duško Knežević held no official position at Omarska or Keraterm camp, but he regularly entered the camps at will and beat and killed detainees.

Following a Plea Agreement, Dušan Fuštar was found guilty on 22 April 2008 and sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment.

On 30 May 2008, the Court rendered the first instance verdict finding all the accused guilty of crimes against humanity. Željko Mejakić was sentenced to a long-term imprisonment of 21 years, Momčilo Gruban to 11 years of imprisonment, and Duško Knežević to a long-term imprisonment of 31 years.

On 16 February 2009, the appeals of the accused were partially granted.

Additional information
Case information sheet

Additional Documents
Mejakić et al. case before the ICTY

Related cases
Fuštar, Dušan

Press releases
30-05-2008 - Željko Mejakić, Momčilo Gruban and Duško Knežević found guilty of Crimes against Humanity
19-12-2006 - Commencement of the main trial in the case of Željko Mejakić and Others
18-10-2006 - Status conference in the case of Željko Mejakić and Others
28-07-2006 - The accused in the Mejakić and others case pleaded not guilty
27-07-2006 - Plea hearing in the Mejakić and others case
14-07-2006 - Confirmed indictment in the Mejakić and others case
10-05-2006 - Custody ordered for Mejakić and others
09-05-2006 - The ICTY accused in the Mejakić and others case transferred to Bosnia-Herzegovina
10-04-2006 - The Mejakić and others case transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina