Croatian war criminal Tomislav Mercep, convicted to 7 years for murder of 43 Serbs, dies

Mercep died after a long and serious illness

The Association of Croatian (war) Volunteers announced today that war criminal Tomislav Mercep has passed away, local media are reporting.

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"We are announcing the sad news to all our members and friends that our association's long-time president, friend and commander passed away at the age of 69 after a serious and long illness," the group announced on its website, Vecernji List is reporting.

On November 10, Mercep was transferred to the hospital in Duga Resa in a serious condition, after he was treated at the KBC Rebro.

According to the verdict, the "Mercep group" illegally arrested 52 Serb civilians in the areas of Kutina, Pakrac and Zagreb, of whom 43 were killed, three are listed as missing, while six survived torture and abuse.

Mercep claimed he was innocent and denied that he commanded a unit named after him.

Croatia's public found out about the activities of Tomislav Mercep and his group at the beginning of 1992, when members of a group that liquidated the Zec family got arrested.

Those detained a the time spoke during the investigation not only about the murder of this Serb family from Zagreb, but also about a series of other instances when people were taken away, and the killings committed in the Pakrac valley.

Mihajlo Zec was killed in the street in Zagreb, while his daughter Aleksandra was killed in Medvednica and then thrown into a garbage pit.

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(Telegraf.rs)