Handzic: Confidential Document Postpones Agreement

“The Chamber wants to pose additional questions related to the evidence introduced by the Prosecution and the indictee’s statement. In addition, we have received a confidential document from the Prosecution. The document is very interesting. It can significantly affect the decision we are about to render,” Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic explained.

The guilt admission agreement, according to which Handzic may be sentenced to between five and ten years in prison for crimes committed in Bugojno in 1993, was considered on May 4.

The details of the agreement are not known because the hearing was closed to public, but, according to the revised indictment, Handzic is responsible for having sent Croat prisoners to dig trenches and failing to undertake investigations against military policemen who participated in the physical abuse and murder of detained members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO.

The indictment alleges that Handzic, former Assistant Commander for Security of the 307th Brigade with the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was superior to the military police unit of that Brigade.

When the proceedings began more than three years ago, Handzic was initially put on trial alongside Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic for crimes committed in Bugojno. According to the charges, Gasal was Manager of the Iskra stadium detention camp, Kukavica was Commander of the detention camp security and Dautovic was Chief of Police and Commander of the Joint Command in Bugojno. Following Handzic’s guilt admission, his case was separated from the case of the other indictees.

The next hearing is due to take place on Thursday, May 12.