Charges dropped against Serbian

Several immigrants are accused of lying about serving in the Serbian military.

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 3, 2007

TAMPA - Federal prosecutors filed a motion Tuesday to dismiss an indictment against another immigrant accused of lying about his involvement with the Serbian military.

Ostoja Saric, 48, of St. Petersburg was set to stand trial on Oct. 15. U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday granted the government's request, formally dismissing the charges.

His case is among a number of bay area men, who all now live in St. Petersburg, who the government said did not disclose information on immigration documents about serving in the Serbian military.

Their charges came after a sweep by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to find soldiers involved in the massacre of Srebrenica, where more than 12,000 Bosnian Muslims were executed.

None of the St. Petersburg men are accused of direct participation in war crimes, but prosecutors say they may have served in units that were involved. None of the men to stand trial so far have been convicted of a crime.

In late September, the government dismissed an indictment against 59-year-old Branko Popic. Prosecutors decided not to proceed with a third trial for Popic after two previous trials ended in hung juries.

In August, a jury found Sekula Bilic, 36, not guilty of the charges.

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 23:34:26]