A former guard at a notoriously harsh and violent Bosnian jail camp, now dwelling in Massachusetts, was discovered responsible of concealing his persecution of ethnic Serbs throughout the Nineteen Nineties Bosnian Struggle, then mendacity to get refugee standing, and finally, his U.S. citizenship.
The U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) mentioned 52-year-old Kemal Mrndzic was convicted of participating in a scheme to hide his involvement on the infamous Čelebići jail camp in Bosnia in 1992; making a false assertion to Homeland Safety brokers about his function on the camp; possessing a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificates and Social Safety card; and utilizing a fraudulently obtained passport and certificates of naturalization. The jury acquitted him of two counts of creating false statements to Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) particular brokers.
Mrndzic was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023.
GRAND JURY INDICTS EX-BOSNIAN PRISON CAMP GUARD FOR LYING ABOUT REFUGEE STATUS
Kemal Mrndzi, an ex-guard at a Bosnian jail camp, was discovered responsible by a federal jury of concealing his involvement on the notoriously harsh and violent jail, earlier than gaining refugee standing within the U.S., and finally, citizenship. (U.S. Division of Justice)
“The heartbreaking testimony of the Čelebići survivors reminded us that the physical pain and mental anguish inflicted by Kemal Mrndzic and his fellow guards at that notorious camp still haunts them 30 years later,” performing U.S. Legal professional Joshua S. Levy mentioned. “Mrndzic concealed his crimes for decades, but gravely underestimated the bravery of these victims and law enforcement’s dedication to finding and prosecuting those who engage in wartime persecution.”
Mrndzic was a guard supervisor on the Čelebići jail camp throughout the Bosnian Struggle which spanned from 1992 to 1995.
5 camp survivors testified throughout the two-week trial concerning the horrific situations on the camp.
The survivors spoke about being detained in an unlit and airless tunnel for months, and practically being suffocated after being sealed in manholes for hours at a time. In addition they testified about each day and nightly beatings administered by camp guards, who used a bat, wood poles and different objects to assault the prisoners.
FORMER BOSNIA WARTIME PRISON GUARD WHO SETTLED IN US FACES FEDERAL CHARGES
Kemal Mrndzi, an ex-guard at a Bosnian jail camp, was discovered responsible by a federal jury of concealing his involvement on the notoriously harsh, violent jail, earlier than gaining refugee standing within the U.S., and finally, citizenship. (U.S. Division of Justice)
The DOJ additionally mentioned survivors testified about murders, the burning of a detainee’s tongue getting burned with a heated knife blade, the wrapping of a prisoner with a protracted fuse wire earlier than it was lit on fireplace, and sexual abuse, amongst different harrowing acts.
One of many survivors recounted how a 70-year-old prisoner was overwhelmed to dying by jail guards who pinned a army badge on his brow as he was dying.
An investigation performed by a United Nations tribunal into the crimes dedicated on the jail camp led to the conviction of two prime commanders on the camp and a guard for quite a few crimes, together with homicide and torture.
Mrndzic was questioned by investigators concerning the case in 1996, although he was not charged.
Mrndzic faces as much as 10 years in jail. (iStock)
Afterward, he fled Bosnia by crossing into Croatia, and utilized as a refugee to the U.S., utilizing a fabricated story, the DOJ mentioned. In his software and interview, Mrndzic lied about fleeing his residence after being captured, interrogated and abused by Serb forces, fearing future persecution if he returned residence.
He was finally admitted to the U.S. as a refugee in 1999, and have become a U.S. citizen in 2009, and was dwelling north of Boston within the city of Swampscott.
“A jury found Mrndzic guilty of lying about his past to come to the U.S. under false pretenses, concealing his work as a guard at the notorious Čelebići prison camp, a prison with well-documented cases of violence, abuse and even murder of prisoners during the Bosnian War,” Michael J. Krol, Particular Agent in Cost of Homeland Safety Investigations in New England mentioned.
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Though he has been convicted, Mrndzic has not but been sentenced. He faces as much as 10 years in jail and three years of supervised launch, plus a positive of $250,000, for fraudulently acquiring a passport and naturalization certificates.
For every of the three remaining expenses, he faces as much as 5 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a positive as much as $250,000.
