Bosnian war criminal transferred to Italy

UNITED NATIONS, May 13 (UPI) -- A former Bosnian military commander who was found guilty of committing crimes against Muslims was transferred Tuesday to a jail in Italy, officials said.

The U.N. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said that Vinko Martinovi, also known as Stela, had served as commander of a sub-unit of the Convicts' Battalion, which was a military unit within the Croatian Defense Council.

Martinovi will serve out the remainder of his 18-year sentence in Italy.

He was personally involved in the forcible removal of Bosnian Muslims from the west bank of Mostar, leaving that side of the town "completely rid of Muslims," the United Nations said.

Martinovi was convicted in March 2003 for persecutions, inhumane acts, inhumane treatment, unlawful labor,

willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, murder, willful killing, unlawful transfer of a civilian and plunder.

Italy is one of 15 European countries that have signed an agreement with the United Nations to enforce sentences imposed by the tribunal on convicted individuals.