Andrun verdict expected on December 14

After the last witness was questioned and both sides presented their physical evidence, the Trial Chamber at the trial of Nikola Andrun announced that both the Defence and the Prosecution would present their closing arguments on December 12.

The verdict will be announced two days later, on December 14.

According to the indictment, Andrun was the deputy warden of Gabela detention camp located near Capljina, and he is charged with the abuse and murder of Bosniak inmates. Gabela camp was formed in 1993, at the time of disputes with Army of BiH, by the Croat Defence Council (HVO).

Before presenting its closing arguments during the last hearing, the defence questioned an additional witness, Smail Sabljic, whose testimony dealt with that of previous prosecution witness Dzemal Topic.

At the end of September, Topic testified that indictee Andrun was guilty of the death of camp inmate Himzija Dizdar, as detailed in the indictment. Topic said that the indictee took Dizdar outside the detention camp, after which he never returned.

Before questioning him, the prosecution warned that Topic had been “offered money” not to testify, of which the court was informed in writing.

Sabljic said that he does not know that anyone tried to influence Topic, but added that during the trial he saw the indictee’s father, Drago Andrun, in Domanovici village where they both live.

“He asked me whether I knew where Topic is, since he worked for me,” this witness claimed, adding that the indictee’s father then “said that he wants to ask him whether he is going to repeat what he told the prosecution about the murder of Himzija Dizdar”.

Sabljic also claimed that Andrun’s father told him that his son’s attorney, Hamdo Kulenovic, will also come to talk to Topic, but the witness said that he never saw the lawyer in Domanovici.

The Bosnian court accepted the defence’s document on Andrun’s engagement in the HVO, as well as a confirmation from Bregava company that from January 1 to July 15, 1993 Andrun worked for them in the position of manager.

According to the indictment, Andrun was in Gabela detention camp during the second half of 1993.

The defence also submitted a Mostar high court verdict against Swede Jackie Benny Arklof, who is charged with the same acts for which Nikola Andrun is held responsible, as well as a confirmation from police station Capljina that the indictee had never faced criminal charges.

The prosecution submitted additional physical evidence regarding the claims that Andrun was deputy warden of Gabela, of which the trial chamber will make a decision at a later date.

During presentation of evidence, defence witnesses denied the indictment’s claim that Andrun was deputy warden of Gabela and claimed that he was a guard who did not commit any crimes against the detained Bosniaks.