On 17 January 2001, the main hearing began at the Zadar County Court in the case of Nikola Munjes who was previously (in 1995) sentenced in absentia to 9 years in prison for a war crime against civilians under Article 120, paragraph 1 of the OKZRH, committed in Perušić in September 1991.
On 4 February 2011 at the Zadar County Court, defendant Nikola Munjes was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
The VSRH quashed the Zadar County Court's judgment.
The case was then transferred to the Spilt County Court.
After the repeated proceedings, on 30 November 2012 the County Court Split's War Crimes Council found the defendant Munjes guilty and sentenced him to 5 years in prison.
The session of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia was held on 20 February 2013. The VSRH upheld the first instance verdict.
INDICTMENT (SUMMARY)
The indictment no. KT-9/95 of 27 June 1995 issued by the Zadar District State Attorney's Office charges the defendant that, in his capacity as a police member of the so-called Republic of Serb Krajina (RSK), in Perušić near Benkovac on 22 September 1991, contrary to international law rules, he beat and threatened two villagers of Croat ethnicity while they were being taken to the "Benkovac Police Station", because of suspicion that they collaborated with the HV.
Click here to read in Croatian the indictment no. KT-9/95 of 27 June 1995 issued by the Zadar District State Attorney's Office
GENERAL INFORMATION
Zadar County Court
Case file number: K - 52/10
War Crimes Council (panel): judge Boris Radman, President of the Council, judges Dijana Grancarić and Ante Anić, Council Members
Indictment: No.KT-9/95 of 27 June 1995 issued by the Zadar District State Attorney's Office
Prosecution: Radovan Marjanović, Zadar County Deputy State's Attorney
Criminal offence: war crime against civilians under Article 120, paragraph 1 of the OKZRH
Defendant: Nikola Munjes, extradited from Monte Negro, held in the detention unit of the Zadar prison from 20 October 2010.
Defence: Slaven Dmitrović, lawyer practising in Zadar
Victims - mistreated: Duje Pešut and Grgo Pešut
Split County CourtCase file number: Krz-7/11
War Crimes Council (panel): judge Bruno Klein, President of the Council, judges Damir Romac and Neven Cambi, Council Members
Indictment: No.KT-9/95 of 27 June 1995 issued by the Zadar District State Attorney's Office
Prosecution: Radovan Marjanović, Zadar County Deputy State's Attorney
VERDICT
With the final verdict no. K-36/95 of 9 October 1995 issued by the Zadar County Court, defendant Nikola Munjes was sentenced in absentia to 9 years in prison.
Deciding on the defendant's request for reopening the trial (after his extradition from Monte Negro), the Zadar County Court's extra-trial council reached a decision no. Kv-280/10 (K-36/95) of 9 November 2010 issuing a permission to reopen the trial.
Click here to read in Croatian the mentioned decision
On 4 February 2011, the Zadar County Court rendered a first-instance verdict (non-final) and sentenced defendant Nikola Munjes to 9 years in prison, upholding the previous verdict rendered by the same court when he was sentenced in his absence.
Click here to read in Croatian the verdict.
The VSRH quashed the Zadar County Court's judgment.
After the repeated proceedings, on 30 November 2012 the County Court Split's War Crimes Council found the defendant Munjes guilty and sentenced him to 5 years in prison.
The session of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia was held on 20 February 2013. The VSRH upheld the first instance verdict.
