Serbia's top court convicts former security chief of attack, sentences him to 40 years

Serbia's Supreme Court sentenced Radomir Markovic, who was security chief for the late strongman Slobodan Milosevic, to 40 years in prison Thursday for organizing an attack on a prominent dissident in which four people died. The court also sentenced Milorad Ulemek, a former commander of Serbia's paramilitary police, and two members of his unit to 40 years in jail, the maximum under Serbian laws. Seven other men received sentences of up to 35 years. The ruling concludes an eight-year judicial saga. After striking down three decisions by lower courts, the Supreme Court took the unusual step of trying the defendants itself. Markovic and his associates were convicted of trying to kill Vuk Draskovic, a prominent opponent of Milosevic who later became Serbia's foreign minister. Draskovic survived the staged road accident on Oct. 3,... [read full story]