Edin Podgora was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for posting a video on social media in which he threatened terrorist acts against Jews and non-Muslims.
A courtroom at the Bosnian state court in Sarajevo. Photo: BIRN.
Bosnia’s state court convicted Edin Podgora on Tuesday of publishing a video on social media in April in which he showed a firearm and a knife and threatened to stage a terror attack.
According to the indictment, the video contained anti-Semitic messages and threats to attack “non-believers”, stating that he would carry out the attack and broadcast it live. His video was viewed hundreds of times on social networks.
Podgora was sentenced to a year-and-a-half in prison after agreeing a plea bargain and admitting guilt.
Judge Hasija Masovic, announcing the verdict, said that in addition to a jail sentence and mandatory psychiatric treatment, Podgora would have to continue treatment after serving his sentence.
A mobile phone, a flare gun and a knife were confiscated from him.
Judge Masovic said that the time that Podgora spent in custody from April 19 onwards will be counted towards his prison sentence.
According to the verdict, he was exempted from paying court costs due to his poor financial state.
Podgora expressed remorse for the crime.
“I hope we will not get into a situation where any court will ever discuss your behavior again,” Masovic told Podgora, adding that he needed to understand that what he did was wrong and have therapy.
A medical expert submitted as evidence stated that Podgora was mentally unstable at the time of the crime, but not significantly.
The verdict cannot be appealed.