Franko Simatović
| Franko Simatović | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Frenki |
| Born |
1 February 1950 Belgrade, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Allegiance |
State Security Service Serbia |
| Years of service | 1978–2001 |
| Unit | Special Operations Unit |
Franko "Frenki" Simatović (Serbian Cyrillic: Франко "Френки" Симатовић, born 1 April 1950) was the head of the Serbian secret police of Slobodan Milošević, the Special Forces of State Security of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was the founder of the Special Operations Unit.
Background
Born in Belgrade, Simatović is an ethnic Croat.[1][2] He was born to the family of Pero Simatović and Neda Winter and was named after his grandfather Franko Winter, founder of Winter law office in Bjelovar and a Josip Broz associate in 1941.[citation needed] Lt. Col. Pero Simatović was high-ranking officer in the Yugoslav People's Army, who graduated in British naval school after the Second World War. He was the Chief Personnel UNEF Hq. Gaza to the peacekeeping mission in Sinai during 1959.[3]
War crimes investigations
Simatović was accused of committing atrocities against non-Serbs during the Yugoslav wars including persecution and murder.[4] As part of Milan Martić's trial at the ICTY, he was found to be part of a "joint criminal enterprise which aimed to create a Greater Serbia including parts of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina."[5] He was cleared of all charges on 30 May 2013.[6]
References
- ↑ Franko Simatovic Frenki: The Croat who heads Milosevic's secret police
- ↑ The Hague: Ex-Paramilitary Leader Pleads Not Guilty
- ↑ Pero Simatovic in Gaza, 21 December 1959, Photo # 147106, United Nations
- ↑ "Case Information Sheet Stanišić & Simatović" (PDF). IT-03-69 The Prosecutor v. Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ↑ "Summary of Judgement for Milan Martić" (PDF). International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ↑ "Oslobođeni Stanišić i Simatović". B92. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.