SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A Bosnian appeals court has acquitted the wartime commander of Srebrenica who was accused of committing atrocities during the 1992-95 Balkan conflict.

Naser Oric was accused of killing three Serb prisoners of war in villages around Srebrenica in the early days of the conflict.

A panel of judges ruled Friday that the prosecution didn't present evidence proving the case against Oric.

This was the second time that Oric was acquitted in a trial which opened in January 2016.

Oric is seen as a hero by many Muslim Bosnians for his role in defending Srebrenica where around 8,000 Muslims men and boys were massacred by Serb forces in 1995.

Oric had also been tried by a U.N. war crimes tribunal where he was also acquitted in 2008.