A former guard at a notorious Bosnian prison camp, Kemal Mrndzic, 51, now residing near Boston, has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly lying about his past to gain refugee status and subsequently, US citizenship. Prosecutors allege Mrndzic concealed his role at the Čelebići prison camp during the Bosnian War of the 1990s, a site known for its brutal treatment of Serbian prisoners.

The indictment includes charges related to fraudulent use of a passport, naturalization certificate, and Social Security card, providing false statements to law enforcement, and engaging in a scheme to hide his involvement in wartime persecution. Mrndzic's legal counsel has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The Čelebići camp, according to the U.S. Justice Department, was the site of killings, sexual assaults, torture, and starvation of Serbian prisoners. Three former guards have already been convicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for their roles in these atrocities. Multiple survivors have identified Mrndzic as a participant in beatings and other forms of abuse at the camp.

A Homeland Security investigator's affidavit describes the horrific conditions at Čelebići, with prisoners crammed into a metal hangar and a lightless underground tunnel, enduring months of inhumane treatment. They were forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder on concrete, unable to lie down or even turn over without coordinating with those around them.

Prosecutors assert that Mrndzic, after being questioned by the tribunal, fled to Croatia and applied for refugee status in the US. He allegedly fabricated a story of being captured and abused by Serbian forces, claiming fear of returning home. Granted refugee status in 1999, he later became a US citizen in 2009.

Arrested in May and released on a $30,000 bond, Mrndzic awaits his court appearance. Acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, Joshua Levy, emphasized that obtaining US citizenship is a privilege, and those who deceive their way into the country will face consequences.