Gazdic: Trial Closed to the Public
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The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has accepted proposal of the State Prosecution that the first witness of the Prosecution, protected witness B, testify without presence of the public in order to protect her private life.
Witness sought exclusion of the public since she is a victim of rape and she will testify on these circumstances. She will also testify on the circumstances of rape of her close relative who was a minor at the time of rape, said Behaija Krnjic, Prosecutor of The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, requesting exclusion of public.
The Defence did not object to the request of The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to exclude the public, after which the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted the proposal of the Defence, so protected witness gave her evidence without the presence of the public.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Gazdic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, with having treated Bosniak females, who were unlawfully held in Partizan sports hall in Foca, in an inhumane manner from the beginning of April 1992 to the end of March 1993.
The indictment alleges that in June 1992 Gazdic took twelve-year old witness A from Partizan sports hall to an apartment, ordered her to bathe, hit her with his fist on her head, which made her partially faint, and raped her.
Under the indictment, Gazdic is charged with having sexually enslaved a minor female and raped other female persons, who had been taken away, and enabled other persons to rape them, while threatening them and using weapons.
Gazdic has been held in custody since April 21 this year.
It was scheduled that witness A testify in this trial, but her testimony was postponed on the ground that she was unable to access the Court.
The continuation of the trial is scheduled for December 14 this year. A.S.
