Bosnian Serb general dies in jail

BELGRADE, Serbia

Zdravko Tolimir, a former ranking officer in the Bosnian Serb army convicted for his role on the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, has died in custody.

The former Army of Republika Srpska general died on Monday night, the Yugoslavia war crimes tribunal in The Hague confirmed on Tuesday.

Last year, Tolimir, 67, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide.

He was the former assistant commander for intelligence and security of the main staff of the Army of Republika Srpska.

"Zdravko Tolimir passed away last night in the UN Detention Unit (UNDU) little after 2100," a statement from International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia spokesman Nenad Golcevski read.

"The Medical Officer was called immediately and the Dutch authorities have commenced standard investigations as mandated under Dutch national law," Golcevski added.

In 2012, he was convicted of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination, murder, persecution and inhumane acts through forcible transfer.