Gasal et al: Admission of Guilt

More than three years after the trial began, Enes Handzic concluded a guilt admission agreement with the State Prosecution. The Trial Chamber then separated his case from the case of indictees Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic.

“Following long-lasting negotiations, we have submitted the agreement, accompanied by a revised indictment, to the Court,” State Prosecutor Slavica Terzic said, adding that the factual description in the indictment had only been revised in regard to Handzic.

No details about the agreement were presented at this hearing. The Defence of Handzic announced that it would ask the Court to exclude the public from the hearing at which the agreement would be considered, to be held on Wednesday, May 4.

Handzic, Gasal, Kukavica and Dautovic are charged with crimes committed against Croat civilians and members of the Croatian Defence Council who were held in detention at various locations in Bugojno in 1993 and 1994.

The indictment alleges that Handzic was Assistant Commander for Security with the 307th Motorized Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gasal was Manager of the Iskra stadium detention camp, Kukavica was Commander of the detention camp security and Dautovic was Chief of Police in Bugojno and Commander of the Joint Command.

Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic mentioned that, for a decision about the agreement it was “very important” to know whether the Prosecution had established contacts with the injured parties.

The trial of the four indictees began in February 2008, after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.