KKondic et al: Indictee Absent Again

The trial for crimes committed in Kljuc continued with the cross-examination of Prosecution witness Enes Salihovic, in the absence of indictee Vinko Kondic.

For the third time, Kondic refused to appear before the Court, claiming that he “does not feel well” and that he was unable to follow the trial because of this. The medical doctors of the Detention Unit of the State Court determined that he was capable of following the trial.

“The doctor informed us earlier today that Kondic was capable of attending the hearing, but he refused to appear claiming that he did not feel well. We decided that a detailed examination of the indictee was to be conducted once again. However, due to objective reasons, this has still not been done,” Trial Chamber Chairwoman Jasmina Kosovic said, adding that the examination would be done soon.

Vinko Kondic, Bosko Lukic and Marko Adamovic are charged with a number of crimes committed in the Kljuc area in 1991 and 1992. The Prosecution charges them with participation in organizing a group of people and abetting them to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

In the course of cross-examination witness Enes Salihovic said that he did not see indictee Kondic during the course of his detention in various buildings, in which he was beaten up.

“Vinko Kondic directly participated in mobilization of people in the Kljuc area. He ordered police members to arrest those who had failed to respond to mobilization calls,” Salihovic said.

The examination of this witness began on January 15 and continued on January 26.

Salihovic said that members of the military and police participated in the attack on Velagici village, adding that he had found out from the media about the suffering of Serb people in the course of 1991.

The trial is due to continue on Monday, February 9, when a new witness will appear in the courtroom.