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Zeljko Topalovic, an HVO member, said that Kovac could not make any decisions without the consent of other people who performed key functions in the military and civilian hierarchy, adding he did not know when the indictee was appointed an HVO unit commander.
“His arrest came as unpleasant surprise to many people. As I personally know him, I can say he was a respectable citizen. I have never heard anyone complaining about his actions,” Topalovic said.
Kovac was sentenced to 13 years in prison for having issued orders and participated in the rape, unlawful arrests and detention of Bosniak civilians in the Radnicki University premises, the cinema hall and the Public Accounting Services building in Vitez in his capacity as Commander of the Military Police Squad with the Vitez HVO Brigade from April to the end of August 1993.
The defence presented Topalovic with a document stating that the Military Police Squad with the HVO Defence Office consisted of 55 members, while the Brigade’s Military Police Squad consisted of 27 members and was led by Ivo Petrovic.
“The late Ivo Petrovic was Commander of the Military Police Squad prior to Ante. I do not know when Ante was appointed the commander, but I think he was a policeman at the time,” witness Topalovic said.
The second defence witness was detained in the cinema hall in Vitez, where he saw the indictee, and Kaonik detention camp during the course of April and May 1993.
“Kovac was sitting by the next table together with another person. They were making some notes. He asked me where I would like to go and I said to Stari Vitez,” the witness said, adding that other detainees, who had been brought to the room, also approached the table.
The witness confirmed he was not arrested, but voluntarily surrendered as he was afraid for his and his family members’ lives. He was released from Kaonik detention camp and exchanged in May 1993.
The trial will continue on September 1.
M.T.
