A Croatian woman living in a small-town in Kentucky was arrested Tuesday for her role in a bloody war in a far-off land almost two decades ago.
The Associated Press reports that Azra Basic, 52, has been accused of committing war crimes at three prisoner camps as a soldier in the Croatian army during the conflict in Bosnia in the early 1990's.
Some of the crimes include fatally stabbing a prisoner in the neck and torturing others by forcing them to drink the man's blood and gasoline as well as setting a man's hands and face on fire.
Since that time, Basic moved to Stanton, Kentucky where she's known to locals as "Issabella" and has been working in a nursing home and a sandwich factory. One elderly woman who was one of Basic's patients even called her "lovely."
While Basic started a new life in the United States, Bosnian officials were building a case against her between 1992 and 2001 using witnesses' statements and forensic evidence.
A U.S. Magistrate judge ordered that Basic be held without bond until an April 1 status hearing.
According to the article, more than 100,000 people were killed during the war between the Muslim Bosnians, Catholic Croats and Christian Orthodox Serbs that make up the country's three ethnic groups.
-Chance Welch
Amazing how murderers from European countries get to come her and live while our neighbors to the south just want a better life and they are vilified.
Posted by: Billy Davis | March 18, 2011 at 11:15 AM
It's mind-boggling that they can make it undetected and not even show up on as a criminal on a no-fly list, but yet many fine, standup Americans are on lists for no apparent reason. Just like we keep fighting an 8-year war and can't even find the so-called mastermind who is a taller than most Saudis, has a beard, and is on dyalisis. Simply nothing short of amazing. This story doesn't phase me. God help us all.
Posted by: mike | March 19, 2011 at 09:12 PM
"our neighbors to the south just want a better life and they are vilified"
Our "visiting" neighbors from the south suck over 400 billion out of our economy every year in welfare. Their "better life" is at our expense. Coming to work is one thing, living off the dole should never be allowed
Posted by: B Forrest | March 20, 2011 at 07:32 AM
The long arm of the law should go after all illegal aliens whether they are criminals or not. The criminals are subject to prosecution and those who crossed the southern border illegally should be returned home.
It is a crime to be illegal. Prosecute all criminals. End citizenship rights to those born to illegal aliens no matter the country of origin.
Encourage all to APPLY for citizenship
Posted by: IKemo Sabe | March 20, 2011 at 10:09 AM
@Billy Davis - Agreed. Although few will dare to admit it, immigration beliefs are heavily driven by how "white" the prospective immigrants appear.
Posted by: Wylie H. | March 20, 2011 at 10:28 AM
If that's "lovely" then I look like Fabio.
Posted by: Notch Johnson | March 20, 2011 at 11:05 AM