Local Justice Guso and Suljagic: Prisoner Covered with Bruises
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Witness Mirsad Imamovic, former military policeman with the 108th Brigade of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ARBiH, said that he first met Radenkovic on August 4, 1994 two days after he had been captured and brought to Maoca.
When I saw him for the first time, Radenkovic was visibly scared. He had difficulties moving. He had bruises on his hands and face. I could see swelling on one side of his face. He told me that he got the injuries while being captured. He said it was not a big deal and he was happy to be alive, adding that he hoped he would see his family again, the witness said.Imamovic testified at the trial of Nusret Guso and Mirsad Suljagic.The indictment alleges that on August 3, 1994, Guso and Suljagic questioned prisoner of war Branko Radenkovic, former member of the Third Battalion with the First Posavina Brigade of VRS, on several occasions. They allegedly humiliated and physically abused him, hitting him with batons and kicking him, during the course of the questioning.
According to the indictment, Guso was Assistant Commander for Morale with the Military Police Company and Suljagic was Security Officer with the 108th Motorized Brigade of ARBiH.
Responding to Trial Chamber’s questions, Imamovic said that during the course of the three months when he guarded the detention unit in which Radenkovic was held, he did not see the indictees visiting the prisoner or talking to him.
The witness said that he did not see any members of military or civil authorities examining Radenkovic, adding that no friends or family members visited him either.
I know that members of the Red Cross visited him, but I was not on duty when that happened, the witness said.
Witness Mirsad Mrkaljevic, another former military policeman, said that he transported Radenkovic from the front lines, where he was captured, to the detention unit in Maoca.
I was informed that I should pick a prisoner up in the vicinity of the front line. A few military policemen loaded him into the minivan. I then drove them to the detention unit. During that time I was not even able to see prisoner Radenkovic properly, Mrkaljevic said.
The trial is due to continue on May 31.M.A.———————————————————————————————————-This article is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of Balkan investigative reporting network (BIRN) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
