Local Justice – Ostojic: Trial Begins before New Chamber

The District Prosecution charges Ostojic, former member of reserve police forces with the Special Unit of the Public Safety Station in Vlasenica with the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Army, with having participated in the beating of civilians in the Susica detention camp during the course of 1992.According to the charges, Ostojic, who acted in collaboration with other members of the formation, took Bosniaks out of Susica detention camp and beat them, using “police batons, rifle butts, hands and legs”.The District Prosecution and Defence said that they stuck by the introductory statements they presented at the trial conducted before the original Trial Chamber.In March 2011 the Defence of indictee Ostojic said that the Trial Chamber should be composed of members of all three constitutional peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Chamber of the Eastern Sarajevo District Court approved the Defence’s request, adding that the trial of Ostojic would begin anew.A statement given by District Prosecution witness Zijad Zimic was presented at this hearing. Zimic said that he stuck by his previous statement. Witness Zimic was examined before the District Court in Eastern Sarajevo on April 20, 2010.The trial is due to continue on September 14.S.U.