Gasal et al: Nineteen Years for Crimes in Bugojno

Dautovic was found guilty of having participated in two joint criminal enterprises of the wartime Presidency of Bugojno, which consisted of Dzevad Mlaco, as President, the indictee and commanders of the Defence Headquarters and Western Operational Group with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The wartime Presidency was the key body for the functioning of military and civil authorities…Dzevad Mlaco’s diary is the key evidence, showing that a plan was made to separate the persons, who were considered extremists, and execute them,” the Trial Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina determined.

According to the verdict explanation, the aim of the enterprise was to deprive Croats, who had surrendered, of their liberty and execute those who were qualified as extremists.

“Dautovic deliberately contributed to the execution of that plan. As Chief of the Public Safety Station in Bugojno, he bears the responsibility for the inhumane treatment of prisoners, who were held in the gymnasium building and police station,” the verdict reads. The verdict further says that Dautovic was one of the commanders of the Joint Command.

It was determined that up to 100 prisoners were held in the gymnasium building, where the Centar Police Station was situated too. The prisoners were deprived of the basic living conditions, while some of them were beaten up as well.

“Dautovic could have prevent the abuse and sanction the perpetrators, but he did not do it,” the Chamber determined. Also, it determined that Dautovic was responsible for forcing prisoners to donate blood.

Dautovic was acquitted of the responsibility for the inhumane treatment of prisoners in other detention facilities, including the “Iskra” stadium detention camp, because, as stated under the verdict, those facilities were not under the jurisdiction of military structures.

Gasal, former Manager of the “Iskra” stadium detention camp, where about 300 Croats were held, was pronounced guilty of bearing the responsibility for crimes committed by his subordinates.

“Many prisoners were subjected to inhumane treatment and forced to perform hard labour at other locations, where they dug trenches and some of them were injured,” the verdict says.

Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic explained that, although the living conditions were significantly improved after Gasal had taken over as the detention camp Manager, the inhumane treatment did not stop completely.

Jukic said that Kukavica, former Commander of Guards at the stadium, was acquitted of the charges, because he conveyed his observations about the happenings in the detention camp to the Manager and that the lists of people, who were going to perform forced labour, could have been made by any of the guards.

Dautovic, who defended himself while at liberty, was ordered into custody. The prohibiting measures against Gasal remain in force. The time they spent under custody at the beginning of the trial in 2007 will be calculated towards their sentences.

The parties have the right to file an appeal with the Appellate Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.