A naturalized citizen residing in Massachusetts has been sentenced to over five years in prison for misrepresenting himself as a Bosnian War refugee while concealing his role in persecuting ethnic Serbs at a notorious prison camp.

Kemal Mrndzic, aged 52, received his sentence in a Boston federal court on Wednesday. A jury found him guilty in October for his attempt to hide his involvement, which dates back three decades, in the abuse of Serb prisoners at the Celebici prison camp in Bosnia.

Additionally, the jury determined that Mrndzic made misleading statements to federal officials regarding his activities at the camp and possessed a fraudulent naturalization certificate, Social Security Card, and passport. This deception was part of a broader effort to avoid facing justice for his actions in the torture of numerous victims at the camp.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley commented that the sentencing reflects the government’s commitment to holding accountable those who commit war crimes and violate human rights. She emphasized that they will not permit the country to offer refuge to individuals evading responsibility for their actions.

Mrndzic was sentenced to 65 months of imprisonment, which will be followed by three years of supervised release. He had been living in Swampscott, a suburb of Boston. Foley indicated that efforts would be made to revoke the citizenship he obtained through fraudulent means.

Brendan Kelley, a federal defender in Boston involved in the case, chose not to comment following the sentencing.

During the war in the 1990s, Mrndzic held the position of supervisor for the guards at Celebici. Federal prosecutors noted that 21 former detainees identified him as one of the most notorious guards at the facility, known for his particularly brutal treatment of prisoners.

Prosecutors revealed that Mrndzic devised a plan to escape Bosnia by crossing into Croatia and applied for refugee status in the U.S., fabricating a story to support his claim. He falsely asserted on his refugee application that he had fled his home after being captured and mistreated by Serb forces and stated he could not return home safely.

Mrndzic became a naturalized citizen in the United States in 2009.