Gasal et al: Beating and mistreatment

Zrinko Alvir, former member of the Military Police Squad with the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, told the Court that he surrendered to the Bosnian Army in July 1993, adding that he was then taken to the furniture shop premises, where he was “beaten up and mistreated” several times.

“We were beaten, but not much, a few times, until one day, when they beat us up severely. This was a disaster. My whole body, starting from my knees up to my shoulders, was covered with bruises. One of my Squad colleagues, Mladen Havranek, died due to the injuries caused by the beating,” Alvir said.

The Prosecution charges Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica, Enes Handzic and Senad Dautovic with the crimes against Croat civilians, who were detained in the detention camps formed in Bugojno, “Slavonija DI” furniture shop and “Iskra” stadium in the course of 1993 and 1994.

Enes Handzic, a former assistant commander for security with the 307th Brigade of the Bosnian Army, and Senad Dautovic, former member of the Joint Staffs of the Bosnian Army in Bugojno town, are charged with having participated in the planning and capture of civilians in Bugojno, while Gasal and Kukavica are charged with responsibility for the functioning of “Iskra” detention camp.

The witness explained that, after the death of soldier Havranek, all injured detainees were transferred to the medical point in Bugojno, where they stayed for the following “ten days”, before being taken to the stadium in Bugojno.

“I stayed at the stadium for 10 to 15 days. I knew some guards there, but they never mistreated me. I cannot say any bad words about them,” Alvir said, adding that he did not see indictees Gasal and Kukavica in the detention camp.

The witness said that he managed to run away on September 20, 1993, when he was taken from the detention camp to “the frontline in Pajic polje” to perform forced labour.

The trial is due to continue on October 1, 2008.