Gasal et al: Only Accused Could Release Prisoners

Handzic, the former assistant commander for security with the 307th motorized brigade, is accused along with three others of crimes committed in Bugojno against Croat civilians and Croatian Defence Council, HVO, members in 1993 and 1994.

Haris Haznadarevic, a formerARBiH member, said he questioned, “as per Handzic’s order”, an HVO member who was detained at the Iskra stadium on October 23, 1993.

“Handzic gave me a list of questions I should ask. I was supposed to ask if he carried a rifle, whether he shot from it and whether he had any objections to his stay in prison. After having questioned him, I gave the notes to the secretary and told her to convey to the chief that my proposal was to release the man,” Haznadarevic said.

The witness said that a few days later he saw the HVO member in Bugojno. Haznadarevic said he assumed the man had been released by Handzic.

“I could not issue any orders. The only person who could do that was the assistant commander for security,” he said.

Haznadarevic told the court that he wanted to help a friend rescue her friend,Josip Kalajic, who was detained at the stadium in 1993.

“Upon our arrival to the entrance they asked us if we had permission. When we said we did not have it, they told us to speak to Enes Handzic,” Haznadarevic said.

Azrudin Sukara, also testifying in Handzic’s defence, said that military policemen were tasked with searching apartments in Bugojno to find HVO members and disarm them following the break-out of conflict in July 1993.

Sukara said that during the search of the building in which Handzic lived, they saw the indictee, who “was surprised” and judging by his questions, “did not know what it was all about”.

The trial will resume on July 14.