Gasal et al: Sheltered from Conflict
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Corhusic, former Commander of a Military Police Unit with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, in Bugojno, told the Court he was at the “Iskra” stadium, where Croats, including members of the Croatian Defebnce Council, HVO, were detained, for 10 or 15 days, adding that he was accompanied by his colleague Hidajet Vincevic.
“Neither I nor my colleague issued any orders during the course of our stay at the stadium. It was Handzic who issued apprehension warrants. Military policemen apprehended people as per his warrants. I know that they were taken directly to the Military Security Service premises,” Corhusic said.
Enes Handzic, Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic are charged with crimes committed against Croats, who were detained in various buildings in Bugojno area during 1993 and 1994.
The indictment alleges that Handzic, former Assistant Commander for Security with the 307th Motorized Brigade of the ABiH, and Dautovic, former Chief of the Public Safety Station in Bugojno, planned and participated in the capture of civilians in Bugojno.
The Prosecution contends that Gasal was Manager and Kukavica was Commander of Guards in “Iskra” stadium detention camp, where about 300 civilians were held in inhumane conditions, mistreated and taken to other locations to perform labour, while some of them were allegedly killed.
Corhusic said he knew that detainees were taken from “Iskra” stadium to other locations to perform labour, but he said it was not until 1997 that he found out that some of them had gone missing.
He told the Court that detainees were taken to “BH banka” premises and the Cultural and Sports Center for questioning, as per Handzic’s warrants.
Witness Enes Sehic, former Director of the Cultural and Sports Center in Bugojno, said that Handzic had an office in the Center during the course of the war, but he claimed not to have seen any detainees in the building but rather “people who were sheltered from the conflict that was happening in the town”.
“I do not think they were apprehended, since they could move freely,” Sehic said.
The next hearing is due on June 9 this year.
