Bojadzic et al: People’s Lives Might be Endangered

Prosecutor Vesna Budimir said there were grounds for the custody extension motion because of a danger that the accused might seek to flee, that he might seek to influence witnesses and accomplices and that the public peace might be disturbed.

The Defence objected to the motion and proposed instead that the Court order prohibiting measures against Bojadzic.

The Court will render its decision at a later stage.

Bojadzic, former Deputy Commander of the “Zulfikar” Special Purposes Squad of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been in custody since November last year on suspicion that he participated in an attack on Trusina village in Konjic municipality. The Prosecution contends that the attack was conducted on April 16, 1993. On that occasion 22 people were killed, including 19 Croat civilians and three members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO.

Budimir said Bojadzic possessed Serbian citizenship, adding that his brothers lived in Novi Pazar, which “increases the fear that he might seek to flee”. Explaining the motion, the Prosecutor said the suspect “threatened the Prosecution and witnesses”.

“The Prosecution examined the witness. It asked the Court to grant protection measures in the case of this witness. The Court approved the request and assigned him a pseudonym of B. This witness’ statement has not been submitted to the Defence because it might endanger the investigation and the lives of some people, even though it has been edited,” the Prosecutor said.

Edina Residovic, Defence attorney of the suspect, said that Bojadzic “has never influenced someone and he is not afraid of the trial and evidence”.

“The Trial Chamber cannot rely on edited statements, because they have not been checked. The Defence seriously considers that these witnesses actually participated in the crime in Trusina and they are now trying to transfer their responsibilities to Bojadzic,” Residovic said.

The Defence said that Bojadzic “came into conflict” with Zulfikar Alispago, Commander of the “Zulfikar” Unit. Alispago was arrested, under a State Prosecution’s warrant, on February 1, 2010 on suspicion that he participated in the attack on Trusina.

“Following the verdict against Sefer Halilovic, which clearly pointed to Alispago’s responsibility for the crimes, efforts were made to find false witnesses to testify against Halilovic. Our client opposed these efforts. You cannot now use such things against him,” the Defence attorney said.

In October 2007 the Hague Tribunal acquitted Halilovic, former Deputy Commander of Headquarters of the Supreme Command of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of all charges alleging that he committed crimes in Grabovica and Uzdol villages in Jablanica and Prozor municipalities.

In addition to Alispago, Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin and Senad Hakalovic, who have been in custody since September 2009, and Jusuf Hadzalija and Nedzad Hodzic, who are defending themselves while at liberty and under certain prohibiting measures, are suspected of the crime committed in Trusina.