Final statements begin in Maktouf case

Prosecutors began closing statements in the trial of Abduladhim Maktouf by accusing a key defence witness of lying.

Prosecutor Peter Kidd told the Judicial Council on Tuesday to disregard the testimony of Ramo Durmis. “His story is full of lies and half-truths,” said Kidd.

Maktouf is accused of aiding members of the Al Mujaheed unit in the illegal arrest, incarceration and abduction of five Croat civilians mid-October 1993 and also of driving one of the two vehicles used to transport them.

Durmis testified on March 13 that he was present when the prisoners were taken away and that it wasn’t Maktouf driving the van. Durmis also denied that the accused was a member of the Al Mujaheed unit blamed for the crime.

In his final statement, Kidd said Durmis’ testimony contained a number of inconsistencies. The prosecutor said Durmis could not possibly give an accurate testimony about the event as he was seriously wounded when it happened.

According to the prosecutor, the only part of Durmis’s testimony that can be taken into account is the one suggesting that the van used in the kidnapping belonged to Maktouf.

“The rest of his testimony should be disregarded because it is absurd,” said Kidd, adding it was beyond doubt that Maktouf owned the van and was in the driver’s seat on the day the crime took place.

The prosecutor also drew attention to the testimony of Ivo Fisic, the only survivor among the victims, as well as the testimony of a protected witness who identified Maktouf as the driver.

“The number of vehicles and kidnappers as well as the colour and type of the vehicles are issues that haven’t been answered during this trial, but I maintain that these details are not of great importance,” he said.

The prosecution will continue its final statement on March 29 after which it is the turn of the defence to make its final submissions.