Memic et al: Treating “Zuka’s Wounded Soldiers”
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Testifying for the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Atif Karovic, former nurse with the Neretvica 45th Mountain Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that soldiers who brought the wounded, including some “members of Zuka’s unit and the 45th Mountain Brigade”, told him that 17 Croats had been killed in Trusina after they had handed their weapons over.
“Following the withdrawal of the Army and the transfer of the wounded, I heard that 17 people, who had handed their weapons over, were killed,” Karovic said, adding that he noticed that members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina seized a large quantity of weapons and ammunition during the attack on Trusina.
Karovic said that a man whose last name was Salcin and whose nickname was Struja guarded the seized ammunition, which was brought to Gostovici village, Konjic municipality.
Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin, known as Struja, Senad Hakalovic, Nedzad Hodzic, Nihad Bojadzic and Zulfikar Alispago, known as Zuka, are on trial for the attack on Trusina village on April 18, 1993, when, as alleged in the indictment, 18 civilians and four members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, were killed.
The Prosecution alleges that Alispago was Commander of the Zulfikar Special Purposes Squad with the Main Command Headquarters of ABiH. He is charged with having failed to punish his subordinates who allegedly participated in the murders. Bojadzic, Alispago’s Deputy, is charged with having commanded the attack.
The indictment alleges that Memic, Salcin and Hodzic were members of the Zulfikar Special Unit and Senad Hakalovic was a member of the Neretvica 45th Mountain Brigade.
The witness said that he dressed the wounds of two members of Zuka’s Unit who were severely injured.
“I know that I dressed the wounds of the late Samko and Almir Kekic, known as Koka. I know that they were members of Zuka’s unit,” Karovic said.
The Defence of Bojadzic and Alispago are due to cross-examine the witness on April 1. A new Prosecution witness will be examined at the next hearing, scheduled for March 28.
