Gasal et al: Central Prison

During the presentation of material evidence at the trial for crimes committed in Bugojno in 1993 and 1994 the State Prosecution introduced 45 documents, which were included in the case file.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica, Enes Handzic and Senad Dautovic with having participated in a number of crimes committed against Bosnian Croats who were detained in detention camps in the Bugojno area in the course of 1993 and 1994.

The indictment alleges that Gasal and Kukavica were responsible for the detainees in “Iskra” detention camp. Handzic, former Assistant Commander for Security with the 307th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dautovic, a former member of the Joint Staff of the Bosnian Army in Bugojno, are charged with planning and participating in the capture of civilians in Bugojno.

As part of the presentation of material evidence, the Prosecution read a statement given by witness Dragan Keskic to investigators of the Hague Tribunal. He said that he spent eight months in various detention camps in the Bugojno area in the course of 1993 and 1994.

“We surrendered on July 22, 1993, perhaps. As they were escorting us, some military policemen, members of the 307th Brigade of the Bosnian Army, hit us with their feet, calling us rebels. They took us to a nearby garage and took away our belongings. They even took our uniforms off, as theirs were not as good,” Keskic’s statement, which was read in court, alleged.

Keskic was detained in the Marxists’ Center “for about seven days”. He stayed in the Center basement, where he was “intimidated and slapped”.

“After that a group of 15 or 20 of us was taken to Prusac to do some work. While we were there, we heard that a central prison had been formed at the stadium in Bugojno. On about August 20 they finally took us to the stadium. I saw barbed wire everywhere, They accommodated us beneath the audience seats,” Keskic said.

His statement alleges that Keskic stayed in a room with about 100 other prisoners, where there was “so little space that we could not lie on our backs, but only on our sides”.

“At the stadium prisoners were beaten every day,” he said. 

Keskic was exchanged in Mostar in February 1994.

Among other material evidence, the Prosecution presented a decision on the appointment of the temporary prison in Bugojno, issued on July 28, 1993, as well as certificates signed by indictee Gasal in his capacity as Manager of the Temporary Prison.

The Court also introduced a number of regular military reports made by the Military Police Squad with the 307th Brigade of the Bosnian Army and an official note prepared by the security body of the 307th Brigade as of August 1993, signed by Enes Handzic.

The next hearing is due to take place on June 3, when the Prosecution will continue presenting material evidence.