Bosnian Serb convicted of lying about military record on U.S. immigration forms

The Associated Press
Friday, May 4, 2007
GREENSBORO, North Carolina: A federal jury has convicted a Bosnian Serb of lying about his military service on U.S. immigration forms, the News-Record newspaper reported in its Friday editions.

Veselin Vidacak, 32, was convicted Thursday after being charged with leaving out his service in the Republic of Srpska's Zvornik Brigade when applying for refugee status. The brigade was responsible for the massacre of thousands of Muslims in the village of Srebrenica in July 1995.

Vidacak — who according to military records was on sick leave during the village killings — said he was pressed into service by the breakaway state within Bosnia-Herzegovina that was never internationally recognized. He said his job in the Bosnian civil war in the early 1990s was to warn villagers when Muslim forces approached.

On one immigration form, Vidacak left blank the question about military service. An aid worker wrote "none" in the blank space after Vidacak signed it. He said on the witness stand that he told federal agents what they wanted to hear when he said in December that he had been in the military.

He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison on four charges when he is sentenced in August, though a sentence of that length is considered unlikely. He will also face deportation after his prison term.

Two other men who emigrated from Bosnia after the war are facing similar charges. The trial of Milivoje Jankovic started Thursday, while Ugljesa Pantic is expected to go on trial after Jankovic's case.

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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/ ... -Trial.php



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