BOSNIA - HIGH-PROFILE PRISONER DISAPPEARS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SARAJEVO 000946

SIPDIS

EUR FOR JONES, EUR/SCE (HOH, SILBERSTEIN, FOOKS,
STINCHCOMB),EUR/ACE (KEETON),EUR/INL (CARROLL, SIMIC);
NSC FOR HELGERSON; OSD FOR BEIN; DOJ FOR OPDAT (ALEXANDRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PTER KCRM KJUS AEMR APCS BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA - HIGH-PROFILE PRISONER DISAPPEARS

REF: A. 07 SARAJEVO 2702

B. 08 SARAJEVO 68

C. 08 SARAJEVO 108

Classified By: Ambassador Charles English for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Bosnia is abuzz about the disappearance of Karray
Kemal bin Ali who failed to return to a high security prison
in Zenica after being granted leave to visit his family. Bin
Ali (AKA Abu Hamza though not the "Abu Hamza" cited in our
terrorism report) is a Tunisian national with possible links
to terrorist groups who was stripped of Bosnian citizenship.
He was serving a prison sentence of 3 years and 10 months for
aggravated robbery, illegal weapons possession charge, and
domestic violence. Zenica Prison Director Nihad Spahic was
quoted in the press as saying that Bin Ali had been granted
leave for good behavior and that he had been granted leave on
four other occasions without any problems. The European
Union Police Monitoring Mission (EUPM) reported that Bin Ali
was granted a 25-day leave the week of June 29.


2. (C) It is unclear why Bin Ali was not denied leave
privileges on the grounds that he posed a security threat
(such that he lost his Bosnian citizenship) and in light of
his long criminal record. In addition to the sentence he was
serving, Bin Ali had previously served an eight-year prison
sentence for a 1997 murder, and, according to official
reports, is facing a thirteen-year sentence in his native
Tunisia for other crimes. The circumstances behind the
Federation Ministry of Interior's decision to send an urgent
letter dated July 23 to the Federation Ministry of Justice
warning of Bin Ali's plans to escape and the notification of
the Zenica prison authorities several days later also remain
unclear.

Comment
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3. (C) Bin Ali's escape from prison is a huge embarrassment
for the Bosnian authorities, especially in light of the
international attention it has received, such as from the
BBC. The incident highlights the liberal sentences and
favorable treatment serious offenders often receive in
Bosnia. It also underscores problems Bosnian authorities are
continuing to have in dealing with the security threat posed
by Bin Ali and other former foreign fighters who remained in
Bosnia. We will continue to explore ways to assist the
Bosnian authorities in closing legal and procedural loopholes
that allow dangerous criminals to leave prison before they
have served their sentences.

ENGLISH