Bogdanovic: Gun Pointed at Head

Salko Zerem told the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina that the indictee came, accompanied by other “soldiers”, to his and his wife’s apartment twice during the course of May 1993.
 
“When they came for the first time they took our car and 300 German marks. Bogdanovic was dressed in civilian clothing, but he was armed. He introduced himself as the commander in charge of that part of Mostar.

“When they came again, at night on May 25, there were four of five of them. Bogdanovic was among them. One of the soldiers pointed a gun at my wife’s head. They asked for money. Some of them had already started taking appliances out of the apartment. They took me into the corridor. I wanted to take my sweater, but Bogdanovic said I would not need it. Then they took me to Heliodrom,” Zerem said.
 
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina alleges that Bogdanovic came to a Bosniak couple’s apartment in Mostar on the night on May 25/26, 1993, accompanied by five members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO. He is charged with searching and pillaging the apartment, as well as threatening and raping the woman and taking her husband to the Heliodrom detention camp, where he stayed for 30 days.
 
The witness said he was not physically mistreated in Heliodrom, but there was “more than enough” mental abuse. It was not until May 2009 that he found out what had happened to his wife.
 
“On that day I was talking about my experiences and my suffering. I thought she had been dispirited and depressed for years because those had been difficult times in general. She told me that Bogdanovic raped her on the night that I was taken to Heliodrom, adding she no longer wanted to keep it to herself. I think she felt relieved after having told me everything,” Zerem said.
 
Prior to his testimony, protected witness S1 testified at a closed session.
 
The trial is due to continue on February 15, 2011.

J.Dj.