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NEDJO IKONIC SENTENCED TO 1 YEAR IN PRISON (UPDATE)
- Participated in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide (background)
- Convicted for lying on U.S. immigration forms
- Still faces deportation hearings that could send him to Bosnia
- Bosnian prosecutors want Ikonic tried for Srebrenica genocide
Nedjo Ikonic – a wanted Serbian war criminal and self-admitted participant in the Srebrenica Genocide – was sentenced to one year in prison Tuesday for lying on U.S. immigration forms. During the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, Bosnian Serb army – with the logistical support of Serbia – summarily executed at least 8,372 Bosniak men, children, and elderly, and forcibly deported 25,000 people in a U.N. assisted ethnic cleansing.
During the war, Ikonic commanded a police unit near Srebrenica during the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. According to the warrant, he and the second man, Dejan Radojkovic of Las Vegas, carried out attacks on civilians. After the war, Ikonic went into hiding to avoid arrest. Like many Serb war criminals, he found a safe haven in the United States. He settled in Greenfield, the Milwaukee area, and thought nobody would question him about his past. But, he was wrong.
Bosnian prosecutors who want to try Ikonic for genocide in front of a panel of international judges under the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The deportation procedure is under the jurisdiction of a federal agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Now that a court has established that Ikonic obtained his immigration status by lying, his deportation is more or less automatic and will probably be determined by an ICE administrative procedure (i.e. it will not require a judge’s order).
“Ikonic was arrested in 2006 and pleaded guilty in September to lying on an immigration form he filled out when trying to come to the United States in 2002… He was arrested in December 2006 as part of a nationwide sweep to find soldiers involved in the massacre at Srebrenica,” reported John Diedrich for
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Sanders said that Ikonic lied to hide his role in the Srebrenica genocide – the worst case of genocide in Europe since World War II. “Mr. Ikonic commanded a company that was at the epicenter of all the atrocities there. He was virtually in the eye of the storm,” said prosecutor Sanders. “Ikonic started trying to get out of Bosnia in 2002 because he saw others involved in the massacre being arrested. First, he tried to go to Canada but was rejected. Then he filled out the U.S. forms, lying about his role.”
“Adelman said it seemed likely to him that Ikonic and his unit played some role in at least facilitating the massacre at Srebrenica. But he said it was not his job to determine if Ikonic had committed war crimes, and he wasn’t making that finding,” reported Diedrich. “Adelman said the fact that Ikonic said he was persecuted when he may have been the one persecuting people, made this a more serious immigration case and warranted the longer sentence.”
According to Newsday reporter Matthew McAllester, UN investigators believe men under the command of Nedjo Ikonic helped separate “over 1,000 Bosnian Muslim men from the women and children and transported these men to temporary detention sites in Bratunac on 12 and 13 July 1995.” Bosniak prisoners were tortured and killed at these sites in the town of Bratunac; most were kept there before being taken to other places to be executed. People under Ikonic’s command also articipated in the separation of men from women before at least 24 men and six women were the victims of “opportunistic killings” in the village of Potocari. Ikonic’s men “were present at the [Kravica] Warehouse when the executions started and [they also] participated in the killings.” More than 1,000 Bosniak men were shot dead in this episode on July 13. Additionally, men under his command summarily executed “a group of 10 to 15 Bosnian Muslim prisoners held in custody at Sandici meadow” on the evening of July 13.
Congress of North American Bosniaks (CNAB) reported on its web site that “Nedjo Ikonic is mentioned in several documents and testimonies issued by the Hague Tribunal. These documents include the indictment against Drago Nikolic, which alleges that Nedjo was commander of the Second Special Police Squad from Mount Jahorina, which it is believed participated in the separation of male civilians from women and children at Srebrenica, as well as in capturing and killing them. Witnesses in the trial of Nikolic et al, mentioned Ikonic as being one of the policemen who took part in the separation of the civilians. The special police unit under Ikonic’s command – which the U.S. Immigration Department claims that in July 1995 was legally subordinate to the Bosnian Serb army – also took part in a road block operation as part of the subsequent sweep of the terrain around Srebrenica in which large numbers of men were taken prisoner and then summarily executed. Ikonic has acknowledged being present there over a period of a week.”
NEDJO IKONIC – TRY HIM FOR GENOCIDE OR DEPORT HIM TO BOSNIA TO FACE GENOCIDE CHARGES!
ACT NOW: In January 2008, George W. Bush signed the U.S. Genocide Accountability Act of 2007, in part to help prosecute and convict Srebrenica Genocide fugitives hiding in the U.S. Now we have a case of Nedjo Ikonic, a Bosnian Serb fugitive who commanded a special police unit responsible for taking part in forcible deportations (ethnic cleansing) and mass murders of Bosniak civilians during the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman will likely set this Srebrenica Genocide fugitive free (on probation). The Judge is on record as saying “I am not a war crimes tribunal.” Contact the Judge today and tell him that his Court has legal responsibility, under the U.S. Genocide Accountability Act of 2007, to either prosecute Nedjo Ikonic for genocide in Srebrenica or order his deportation for prosecution by a panel of international judges under the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina.CONTACT JUDGE LYNN ADELMAN NOW!
E-mail: AdelmanPO@wied.uscourts.gov
Telephone: (414) 297-1285
Fax: (414) 297-1296
Chambers: Room 364
Courtroom: Room 390
TELL THE JUDGE Nedjo Ikonic should be tried for genocide – not released on probation! Under the U.S. Genocide Accountability Act of 2007, your court can and should prosecute Nedjo Ikonic for genocide, or order his deportation for prosecution by a panel of international judges under the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
NEDJO IKONIC – WANTED FOR GENOCIDE
Ikonic is wanted by Bosnian prosecutors for taking part in the Srebrenica Genocide when he commanded a police unit near Srebrenica during the 1995 massacre. However, the Bosnian government has not formally sought Ikonic’s extradition. Ikonic admitted that he commanded a special police unit that was sent to guard a stretch of road near Srebrenica. He didn’t disclose that on immigration forms in 2002 when he applied for refugee status.
According to the warrant, Nedjo Ikonic and the second man, Dejan Radojkovic of Las Vegas, carried out attacks on civilians during the Srebrenica Genocide.
Ikonic was originally indicted on eight counts of lying on immigration forms. However, on September 16 2008, Ikonic arranged a plea agreement with the prosecutor. The original indictment read: “Ikonic had assisted in the murder of Muslim men during the Srebrenica massacre in July of 1995.” After plea bargain was signed, that line was absent from the two counts to which he pleaded guilty for. Although the two counts carry a maximum of 20 years in prison, under the plea agreement, Ikonic is more likely to get a probation.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman delayed the sentencing to give Ikonic’s attorney Nikola Kostich more time to counter federal prosecutors’ claims that his client committed war crimes. The Judge set the next hearing for Feb. 24, but added, “I am not a war crimes tribunal.”
According to Newsday reporter Matthew McAllester, UN investigators believe men under the command of Nedjo Ikonic helped separate “over 1,000 Bosnian Muslim men from the women and children and transported these men to temporary detention sites in Bratunac on 12 and 13 July 1995.” Bosniak prisoners were tortured and killed at these sites in the town of Bratunac; most were kept there before being taken to other places to be executed. People under Ikonic’s command also articipated in the separation of men from women before at least 24 men and six women were the victims of “opportunistic killings” in the village of Potocari. Ikonic’s men “were present at the [Kravica] Warehouse when the executions started and [they also] participated in the killings.” More than 1,000 Bosniak men were shot dead in this episode on July 13. Additionally, men under his command summarily executed “a group of 10 to 15 Bosnian Muslim prisoners held in custody at Sandici meadow” on the evening of July 13.
CONTACT JUDGE LYNN ADELMAN NOW!
E-mail: AdelmanPO@wied.uscourts.gov
Telephone: (414) 297-1285
Fax: (414) 297-1296
Chambers: Room 364
Courtroom: Room 390
TELL THE JUDGE Nedjo Ikonic should be tried for genocide – not released on probation! Under the U.S. Genocide Accountability Act of 2007, your court can and should prosecute Nedjo Ikonic for genocide, or order his deportation for prosecution by a panel of international judges under the jurisdiction of the Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
OF INTEREST: Read our debate with Chris Justice, an attorney who defended Srebrenica Genocide fugitive Milivoje Jankovic on immigration charges, at the following page in comments.
FURTHER RESEARCH:
1. Suspect Avoids Genocide Charges 3 weeks after Genocide Accountability Act Enacted
2. Phoenix, Arizona – A Mecca for Serb Suspects of Srebrenica Massacre
3. The United States Deports Two Serbs Wanted for Srebrenica Massacre
4. Bosnian Serb Immigrants Failed to Disclose Their Past Service in Genocidal Military
5. Marko Boskic – Srebrenica Genocide Mass Murderer
6. Butcher of Srebrenica Wants His Own Admission Squashed
7. Srebrenica Genocide Gunman, Marko Boskic, Will Not Face Torture Charges
8. Elusive Justice: A Man Who Gunned Down 1,200 Srebrenica Bosniaks
9. Srebrenica Genocide Suspects Give Up Fight, Agree to be Deported to Bosnia
10. More Arrests of Srebrenica Genocide Suspects in the U.S.
11. List of Srebrenica Suspects Getting Away with Genocide
12. Bosnian Serb Deported from the U.S. After Lying on Immigration Paperwork
13. Deported Criminal Convicted for Crimes Against Humanity in Bosnia
14. Search our blog for more information. Look for Google Custom Search Box, it is located on the left-hand side.
LIST OF SUSPECTS: GETTING AWAY WITH GENOCIDE
THE U.S. COURTS CHARGE SREBRENICA GENOCIDE SUSPECTS FOR IMMIGRATION FRAUD, BUT FAIL TO PROSECUTE THEM FOR WAR CRIMES
An Akron man was convicted Tuesday of lying about his service in a notorious Bosnian Serb army unit that massacred thousands of people during the war in the former Yugoslavia more than a decade ago.
Ratko Maslenjak and his family settled in Akron in 2000, but the man had a secret, federal prosecutors said: He served in the Bosnian Serb army and did not tell immigration officers when he applied for refugee status and later for a green card. Maslenjak thus kept officials from scrutinizing his past and possibly barring him from the United States, Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Tripi said.
Duty rosters presented by prosecutors during a five-day trial revealed that Maslenjak served that year as a company commander. International investigators uncovered the rosters in Bosnia and Herzegovina during a war crimes probe.
Jurors heard little about the Srebrenica genocide or about Maslenjak’s specific duties. U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. repeatedly told jurors that Maslenjak was on trial for immigration violations, not war crimes.
Defense lawyers argued that the Bosnian Serb army, also known as the VRS, drafted Maslenjak during the war between Bosnian Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats. The fighting ravaged the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Maslenjak’s lawyers claimed that he failed to disclose his VRS duty because of alleged flaws in translation. Maslenjak does not speak or read English.
Maslenjak remained stoic Tuesday as he listened to the verdict through an interpreter. His wife Divna and pastor, the Rev. Dragomir Tuba, covered their faces in distress when a clerk announced the decision.
Maslenjak will be sentenced next year on the criminal charges and remains free on bond. He is also facing deportation.
Here is an incomplete list of Srebrenica genocide suspects who were (so far) arrested in the United States and charged only with immigration fraud, even though there was clear evidence of their involvement in the Srebrenica genocide – as confirmed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement:Zdravko Kordic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Branko Popic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Ostoja Saric, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Strahinja Krsmanovic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Boro Stojanovic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Jadranko Gostic, indicted on one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship and one count of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Zoran Radic, indicted on one count of immigration fraud and making false statements. Radic remains at large (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Dusan Bosnjak, (remains at large) indicted on one count of immigration fraud and making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Bogdan Panic, (remains at large) indicted on one count of naturalization fraud and making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Nedjo Ikonic, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Milivoje Jankovic, indicted on two counts of immigration fraud and two counts of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Veselin Vidacak, indicted on two counts of immigration fraud and two counts of making false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Milisav Vukovic, charged with one count of false statements (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Nedjo Lojpur, indicted on two counts of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Ratko Maslenjak, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Dalibor Butina, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Radovan Jankovic, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Vlado Kecojevic, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Branislav Cancar, charged with one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Mladen Blagojevic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Nenad Dragic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Milenko Gujic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Mitra Gujic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Rajko Hercegovac, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Risto Hercegovac, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Momcilo Krstic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Rajko Ninkovic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Radenko Spiric, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Vitomir Spiric, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Nikola Stankovic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Savo Tojcic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Cvijan Vidakovic, charged with fraud or misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and perjury (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Ugljesa Pantic, one count of possessing a green card obtained by making a false statement (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Zdravko Bozic, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Radenko Ubiparipovic, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Dragon Ubiparipovic, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Goran Bencun, one count of immigration fraud (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Milenko Stjepanovic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Mirka Stjepanovic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Ranko Nastic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Branko Ristic, one count of immigration visa fraud charge (in connection with concealing prior service in the Bosnian Serb military who participated in Srebrenica genocide, Srebrenica massacre).
Sources and related readings:
1. Sixteen charged with concealing Bosnian Serb military when entering U.S. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (December 15, 2006)
2. Former member of brutal Bosnian Serb military unit sentenced to jail for concealing his military past – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (November 20, 2006)
3. ICE probe leads to indictement of four former members of Bosnian Serb military for immigration fraud – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (June 8 2006)
4. Thirteen past members of Serbian military indicted for immigration fraud – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (September 14, 2005)
5. Four Serb suspects arrested in Chicago
6. Four Serbs on trial for Srebrenica genocide; Two of them deported from the U.S.
7. Butchers of Srebrenica hiding in the U.S.
8. The United States deports two Serbs wanted for Srebrenica massacre
9. Bosnian Serb immigrants failed to disclose their past service in Genocidal military
10. Marko Boskic – Srebrenica murderer
11. Butcher of Srebrenica wants his own admission kept silent
12. Srebrenica massacre gunmen will not face torture charges
13. Elusive Justice: a man who gunned down 1,200 Srebrenica Bosniaks
14. Phoenix, Arizona: Mecca for Serb suspects of Srebrenica genocide
Srebrenica Massacre 