Ramiz Delalić (15 February 196327 June 2007), widely known by his nickname Ćelo (The word means "baldy" - a common nickname in

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

for criminals, because their heads were shaven during their time spent in prison), was a Bosnian

organized crime Organized crime is a category of transnational organized crime, transnational, national, or local group of centralized enterprises run to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally thought of as a f ...

figure,

war criminal A war crime is a violation of the laws of war that gives rise to individual criminal responsibility for actions by combatants in action, such as intentionally killing civilians or intentionally killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hostage ...

and commander of the 9th Mountain Brigade in

. He was one of several prominent underworld figures engaged by the Party of Democratic Action in preparations for the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Delalić gained notoriety as the main suspect who stood trial before a local court for the killing of Nikola Gardović on 1 March 1992.

Activities

Delalić, along with Mušan "Caco" Topalović were two of the criminals who helped to organize Bosniak paramilitaries in Sarajevo. In addition to guarding key positions on Mount Trebević, their gangs "requisitioned" private vehicles; kidnapped men to dig trenches at the front; murdered, raped and robbed with impunity. Despite the stories surrounding him later during the war, namely his racketeering and extortion rings, his acts during the wartime were still considered far less controversial when compared to other local warlords, such as Jusuf "Juka" Prazina. Unlike Prazina and some other local gangsters, Delalić remained loyal and obedient to official Bosnian political and military authorities through the entire war-period, and it is even assumed that he was very close with Bosnian president Alija Izetbegović.

Sarajevo wedding attack

On 1 March 1992, an Orthodox- Serb

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

wedding procession in front of the Old Church in

's old quarter of Baščaršija was attacked, resulting in death of the father of the groom, Nikola Gardović, and the wounding of a Serbian Orthodox priest. Delalić was identified by eyewitnesses as the shooter. However, Bosnian Muslim authorities made little effort to locate and prosecute him. On 8 December 2004, Delalić was charged with one count of first degree murder in relation to the wedding attack. Delalić was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Sarajevo before the completion of his trial.

Death

Delalić was gunned down at the entrance to his apartment building in the center of

, on 27 June 2007. The killer waited for Delalić and fired at him on two occasions, each time with multiple shots. Immediately after the shooting, an ambulance arrived, though doctors pronounced Delalić dead shortly after. Police believed the murder was organized by Naser Kelmendi, a Kosovo-born drug trafficker and Delalić's rival. Delalić was buried in the Kovači Cemetery, Sarajevo.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delalic, Ramiz 1963 births 2007 deaths Bosniaks of Serbia People from Priboj Bosnia and Herzegovina gangsters Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina soldiers Bosnia and Herzegovina murder victims People murdered in Bosnia and Herzegovina Deaths by firearm in Bosnia and Herzegovina People acquitted of murder Serbian expatriates in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 murders in Europe 2000s murders in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Activities

Sarajevo wedding attack

Death

See also

Notes

References