Jury finds ex-Bosnian prison camp guard guilty for lying about refugee status

A erstwhile defender astatine a notoriously harsh and convulsive Bosnian situation camp, present surviving successful Massachusetts, was recovered blameworthy of concealing his persecution of taste Serbs during the 1990s Bosnian War, past lying to get exile status, and ultimately, his U.S. citizenship.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said 52-year-old Kemal Mrndzic was convicted of engaging successful a strategy to conceal his engagement astatine the notorious Čelebići situation campy successful Bosnia successful 1992; making a mendacious connection to Homeland Security agents astir his relation astatine the camp; possessing a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate and Social Security card; and utilizing a fraudulently obtained passport and certificate of naturalization. The assemblage acquitted him of 2 counts of making mendacious statements to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) peculiar agents.

Mrndzic was indicted by a national expansive assemblage successful June 2023.

GRAND JURY INDICTS EX-BOSNIAN PRISON CAMP GUARD FOR LYING ABOUT REFUGEE STATUS

Kemal Mrndzi, an ex-guard astatine a Bosnian situation camp, was recovered blameworthy by a national assemblage of concealing his engagement astatine the notoriously harsh and convulsive prison, earlier gaining exile presumption successful the U.S., and ultimately, citizenship. (U.S. Department of Justice)

"The heartbreaking grounds of the Čelebići survivors reminded america that the carnal symptom and intelligence anguish inflicted by Kemal Mrndzic and his chap guards astatine that notorious campy inactive haunts them 30 years later," acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said. "Mrndzic concealed his crimes for decades, but gravely underestimated the bravery of these victims and instrumentality enforcement’s dedication to uncovering and prosecuting those who prosecute successful wartime persecution."

Mrndzic was a defender supervisor astatine the Čelebići situation campy during the Bosnian War which spanned from 1992 to 1995.

Five campy survivors testified during the two-week proceedings astir the horrific conditions astatine the camp.

The survivors spoke astir being detained successful an unlit and airless passageway for months, and astir being suffocated aft being sealed successful manholes for hours astatine a time. They besides testified astir regular and nightly beatings administered by campy guards, who utilized a bat, woody poles and different objects to battle the prisoners.

FORMER BOSNIA WARTIME PRISON GUARD WHO SETTLED IN US FACES FEDERAL CHARGES

Kemal Mrndzi, an ex-guard astatine a Bosnian situation camp, was recovered blameworthy by a national assemblage of concealing his engagement astatine the notoriously harsh, convulsive prison, earlier gaining exile presumption successful the U.S., and ultimately, citizenship. (U.S. Department of Justice)

The DOJ besides said survivors testified astir murders, the burning of a detainee’s lingua getting burned with a heated weapon blade, the wrapping of a captive with a agelong fuse cord earlier it was lit connected fire, and intersexual abuse, among different harrowing acts.

One of the survivors recounted however a 70-year-old captive was beaten to decease by situation guards who pinned a subject badge connected his forehead arsenic helium was dying.

An probe conducted by a United Nations tribunal into the crimes committed astatine the prison campy led to the condemnation of 2 apical commanders astatine the campy and a defender for galore crimes, including execution and torture.

Mrndzic was questioned by investigators astir the lawsuit successful 1996, though helium was not charged.

FORMER BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY COMMANDER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRIMES AGAINST CIVILIANS DURING WAR

Mrndzic faces up to 10 years successful prison. (iStock)

Afterward, helium fled Bosnia by crossing into Croatia, and applied arsenic a exile to the U.S., utilizing a fabricated story, the DOJ said. In his exertion and interview, Mrndzic lied astir fleeing his location aft being captured, interrogated and abused by Serb forces, fearing aboriginal persecution if helium returned home.

He was yet admitted to the U.S. arsenic a exile successful 1999, and became a U.S. national successful 2009, and was surviving northbound of Boston successful the municipality of Swampscott.

"A assemblage recovered Mrndzic blameworthy of lying astir his past to travel to the U.S. nether mendacious pretenses, concealing his enactment arsenic a defender astatine the notorious Čelebići situation camp, a situation with well-documented cases of violence, maltreatment and adjacent execution of prisoners during the Bosnian War," Michael J. Krol, Special Agent successful Charge of Homeland Security Investigations successful New England said.

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Although helium has been convicted, Mrndzic has not yet been sentenced. He faces up to 10 years successful situation and 3 years of supervised release, positive a good of $250,000, for fraudulently obtaining a passport and naturalization certificate.

For each of the 3 remaining charges, helium faces up to 5 years successful prison, 3 years of supervised merchandise and a good up to $250,000.