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Testifying before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tomislav Bjelinac said that he was taken to the Central Prison in Sarajevo on May 19, 1992 and that he was transferred to the military prison in Viktor Bubanj barracks in June 1992.
Seven days later I found out that Besim was the Manager of the prison. Guards took me to his office, where he examined me. After two or three meetings the Manager asked me if I wanted to go home. I said yes. I went home a short time later, Bjelinac said, adding that he left the military barracks in June 1992.
The State Prosecution charges Besim Muderizovic, Ramiz Avdovic and Iliuan-Nicolae Vintila with having participated, as members of a joint criminal enterprise, in the establishment and maintenance of a system of abuse of Serb civilians, who were held in Viktor Bubanj military barracks, from the end of June to the end of November 1992.
The indictment alleges that Serb civilians, who were detained in Viktor Bubanj military barracks, were subjected to intentional causing of severe bodily pain and suffering, while also being forced to perform hard labour.
According to the charges, Muderizovic was Deputy Manager on the fifth floor of the District Prison in Sarajevo and Commander of the Military Prison in Viktor Bubanj military barracks, Avdovic was commander of guards in those buildings and Vintila was a cook and guard in the former barracks.
Witness Bjelinac said that he was not mistreated during his stay in Viktor Bubanj prison, but a prisoner told him that the prison cook mistreated him by cursing him.
Indictee Muderizovic told the witness that he had never examined him. Witness Bjelinac responded by saying that he was in his office.
As he said, during his stay in the central prison the witness was held on the fifth floor, where he was beaten up a few times.
They used to take people out of their cells. I was taken out two or three times. They would take us out to the corridor at night and hit and mistreat us. We would hear noise in the corridor at night, Bjelinac said, adding that he was taken from the central prison to Viktor Bubanj military barracks to perform labour.
The next hearing is due to be held on April 19 this year, when a protected State Prosecution witness will be examined.
S.U.
