Gasal et al: Enes Handzic’s Testimony Scheduled

Handzic, former Assistant Commander for Security with the 307th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, was sentenced under a guilt admission agreement he had previously signed with the prosecution.

Under the deal, he accepted responsibility for deploying Croat prisoners to dig trenches and failing to punish subordinate members of the Military Police.

Handzic was originally charged under the same indictment as Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic, for crimes committed against Croats in Bugojno in 1993 and 1994.

Gasal, former Manager of the “Iskra” stadium detention camp, and Kukavica, former Commander of the detention camp security, are charged with crimes committed in that camp, where civilians and prisoners of war were held in inhumane conditions. Dautovic, former Chief of Police in Bugojno, is charged with having planned and carried out the capture of civilians in that town.

Their trial began more than three years ago. The presentation of State Prosecution’s additional evidence is underway at present.

State Prosecutor Slavica Terzic said that she was not able to propose other pieces of additional evidence at this hearing, because she “urgently had to work on the agreement”. The Trial Chamber then said that she should submit them in writing within the next three days.

The Defence of Gasal, Kukavica and Dautovic announced that they would propose their additional evidence once the State Prosecution had completed the presentation of its evidence.

D.Dž.