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War Criminal Arrested in Central New York

War Criminal Arrested in Central New York

War Criminal Arrested in Central New York

On November 28th, 2012, a former Liberian military commander was arrested in central New York on charges of lying about his role in a civil war that took place in his home country. In this article, we will take a closer look at the arrest, the charges against the individual, and the impact of the arrest.

The Arrest

The individual in question, Mohammed Jabbateh, was arrested at his home in East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, by agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Jabbateh had been living in the United States under a false name and was suspected of committing war crimes during the Liberian civil war, which took place from 1989 to 2003.

The Charges

Jabbateh was charged with two counts of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship and two counts of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents. The charges stem from allegations that Jabbateh lied on his immigration application and failed to disclose his involvement in the war.

According to the indictment, Jabbateh was a member of a group that committed numerous atrocities during the Liberian civil war, including murder, rape, and conscription of child soldiers.

The Impact

The arrest of Jabbateh was a significant development in the effort to hold war criminals accountable for their actions. The United States government has been working to prosecute individuals suspected of committing war crimes and other atrocities around the world, and the arrest of Jabbateh is a reminder that no one is above the law.

The arrest also highlights the challenges of identifying and prosecuting war criminals who have fled to other countries. Jabbateh had been living in the United States for more than a decade and had managed to evade detection until he was arrested.

The Future

The arrest of Jabbateh is just one part of the broader effort to hold war criminals accountable for their actions. The United States government, along with other countries and international organizations, will continue to work towards the goal of justice for victims of war crimes and other human rights abuses.

Conclusion

The arrest of Mohammed Jabbateh, a former Liberian military commander, for lying about his role in the civil war in his home country, is a reminder that war criminals can be held accountable for their actions, no matter where they may try to hide. The charges against Jabbateh are a significant milestone in the effort to bring justice to victims of war crimes and other human rights abuses, and the arrest serves as a warning to others who may think they can escape prosecution.


A wanted war criminal was arrested in central New York by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents during the early morning of November 28, 2012.  The man was arrested in Utica.

The man, Sulejman Mujagic is wanted in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes he committed while he commanded a platoon for the Army of the Autonomous Province in Western Bosnia.  He will remain in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) until he is extradited back to his home countries to face the war crimes.

Mujagic is officially charged with unlawfully killing an enemy, unlawfully wounding an enemy, and torturing a prisoner of war.  The crimes occurred on March 6, 1995 when the group was fighting against the army of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  He murdered a captured prisoner and tortured another solider.

In order to avoid war crimes, Mujagic moved to Utica, New York in July of 1997.

The investigation was led by ICE HSI agents, but other federal state and local authorities helped as well.  The U.S. Marshals Service, the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Utica Police Department, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office assisted during the investigation.

The United States worked with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Prosecutor’s Office of Una-Sana Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina to catch Mujagic.  The United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina have worked in the past to investigate and prosecute war crimes, and Mujagic’s case is the most recent.

Since 2004, HSI agents have arrested more than 200 people on human rights violations and other criminal immigration statutes.  Federal agents removed over 400 suspected or known violators of human rights from the United States during the same time.  The suspects and known violators were sent to almost 95 different countries.

Source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement