Nikacevic: Credible policeman

Defence witness Omer Bavcic from Gorazde told the Trial Chamber that he managed to survive, after having been detained in Foca Correctional Facility for sixteen months, “thanks to Miodrag Nikacevic”.

Bavcic testified at the trial of the former policeman from Foca, who is charged, by the State Prosecution, with crimes against humanity in Foca in the course of 1992.

Bavcic claims to have known Nikacevic “since he was born”, adding that he referred to him when “Serbian soldiers” captured him in the vicinity of Gorazde on June 23, 1993.

“They took me to the police station, where I stayed overnight. Then they took me to the Correctional Facility. Nikacevic came the following morning. He told me he would help me stay alive, but he could not say when I would be released. This is exactly how it happened. Had he not helped me, I would not have survived. Guards used to tell me that he begged them to help me. That is why they gave me cigarettes and more food than they gave to others,” Bavcic said.

Second Defence witness who testified at this hearing was Smail Hadzimusic, policeman from Foca. He used to work with the indictee before and after the war. He told the Court that Nikacevic was “a fair policeman”, who always wanted to help everyone.

“I never heard him say any offensive things to anyone. He is a credible, professional and knowing policeman. Had I ever heard any bad words about Nikacevic, I would not have been here today,” Hadzimusic said.

The witness said that people “used to say” that Nikacevic “exposed himself to gunfire” while trying to save a Bosniak colleague, who was the first war victim in Foca.

“He was the only one who was courageous enough to go there and try to help a wounded colleague,” Hadzimusic said.

The trial is due to continue on October 7, 2008.