Week Ahead: Trbic at the Court of BiH

On Tuesday, October 30, Milorad Trbic, indicted for genocide committed in Srebrenica, is due to appear at a pre-trial status conference.

On June 11 this year, Trbic was transferred from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to BiH for further processing. As he refused to appear at the plea hearing scheduled in August, the court subsequently recorded a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

The prosecution charges the former assistant commander for security with the Zvornik Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army (VRS) with having participated in the execution of more than 7,000 Bosniaks at the stadium in Bratunac on July 13, 1995, and in front of the school in Grbavci on July 14, 1995.

Following the confirmation of the indictment against Suad Kapic, a plea hearing has been scheduled to take place in the Court of BiH on Thursday, November 1.

The indictment alleges that Kapic, a former member of the Fifth Corps of the Army of BiH, participated in the capture and murder of four VRS members during the “Sana 95” military operation conducted in September 1995.

The first defence witnesses at the trial of Zdravko Mihaljevic are due to appear at a hearing scheduled on Friday, November 2. The Prosecution of BiH charges the former member of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) with having committed crimes against humanity in the village of Tulice near Kiseljak.

The trial of Mirko Todorovic and Milos Radic, indicted for shooting of a group of Bosniaks in Bratunac in 1992, is due to continue on Monday, October 29.

On the same day, and also on Wednesday, October 31, the prosecution is due to continue presenting evidence against Marko Radic, Dragan Sunjic, Damir Brekalo and Mirko Vracevic, who are indicted for crimes committed in Vojno detention camp near Mostar in 1993.

Next week, on October 30, the trial continues in the case of Sefik Alic, a former member of BiH Army, who is considered responsible for crimes committed against prisoners of war.

On the same day, the trial of Mitar Rasevic and Savo Todovic is due to continue. The two persons are charged with having maltreated prisoners in Foca Correctional Facility from 1992 to 1994.

On Wednesday and Thursday next week, the prosecution is due to continue its evidence presentation process against Zeljko Mejakic, Momcilo Gruban, Dusan Fustar and Dusko Knezevic, who are charged with crimes committed in Omarska and Keraterm detention camps in Prijedor.

On Wednesday, October 31, the defence team of Jadranko Palija is due to continue examining the witnesses who will testify in favour of the former member of the Sixth VRS Brigade from Krajina, who is charged with the murder of civilians in the village of Begici, in Sanski Most municipality.

On Thursday, November 1, ten witnesses invited by Dragisa Zivanovic’s defence team are due to be examined as part of the trial of the 11 persons charged with genocide committed in Kravica.