Zivko Z. was taken into custody after a Zagreb court issued the warrant to pursue criminal proceedings, authorities said.
Croatian investigators allege that in August–October 1991, in Grubišno Polje, he served as political commissar of the Bilogorski unit based in Velika Peratovica and, with others, issued orders and took part in actions during the conflict.
According to the allegations, he knew subordinates were unlawfully detaining, torturing, physically abusing and killing civilians, looting property, and setting homes and commercial buildings on fire.
Investigators also say that, as a member of Serbian paramilitary forces during the war, he detained eight civilians, tortured them in a makeshift prison, and shot one civilian with an automatic rifle.
Croatian law provides for up to 20 years in prison for such offenses.
After his arrest, Zivko Z. was questioned as a wanted person at the Warsaw District Prosecutor’s Office and denied the acts listed in the warrant. A court ordered seven days of provisional detention.
(jh)
Source: IAR