A Bosnian court was gentle on a man found guilty for a series of bomb attacks earlier this year after he confessed and said he was motivated by love.
“I think that the judge has taken into account Mladen Kragulj’s confession, regret and motive in deciding the sentence,” defence lawyer Dragan Barbaric said.
Kragulj (54) was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $2 700 for planting five explosive devices in the southern town of Mostar in January.
The blasts, which occurred in the vicinity of the Majestic restaurant over a four-day period, caused damage to surrounding buildings and vehicles. Nobody was hurt.
Upon being arrested, Kragulj said he planted the bombs to prove to his long-time girlfriend that Mostar was dangerous and that she should return to their hometown of Prijedor, in the country’s north-west.
Kragulj’s girlfriend, whose identity was not revealed, had moved to Mostar after getting a job. She has since accepted his request to get married, local newspapers reported.
Mostar saw fierce fighting between its Muslim and Croat communities during Bosnia’s 1992 to 1995 war. Almost 12 years on, the town still bears the scars of the conflict. — AFP