Local Justice – Sarajevo: Trial of Dusko Djajic begins

Presenting its introductory statement, the Prosecution said that it would prove that indictee Djajic intimidated civilians, unlawfully took them away, abused and treated them in an inhumane manner and pillaged their property, while the Defence said that it would prove that the indictee did not commit the crimes charged upon him.

“By examining injured party Srecko Klaric and two other witnesses and court experts in psychiatry and finance, as well as presenting material evidence, the Prosecution will prove that the indictee committed the crime charged upon him,” said Aida Catovic, Prosecutor with the Cantonal Prosecution in Sarajevo.

The indictment alleges that, on November 1, 1995 Djajic ordered armed policemen to bring Srecko Klaric to the Police Station, under the excuse of an interview. Once he was brought to the Station, he told him that he had to leave his apartment and the territory of Republika Srpska, considering the fact that he was “a Croat under the threat of liquidation”.

According to the charges, Djajic was Crime Inspector with the Public Safety Station in Ilidza at the time.

“When Klaric refused to leave his apartment, Djajic cursed his Croat mother and hit him on his face with his fist. After having been hit, the injured party fell off the chair, while other policemen continued hitting him with their legs and fists,” Catovic said.

She said that, following the beating, Djajic drove the injured party to a checkpoint at Kobiljaca, which was controlled by the RS Army, and handed him over to a soldier, who then took him to a local road and told him not to step out of it, because the area was mined.

“Djajic moved into Klaric’s apartment on November 2, 1995. He lived in the apartment until March 1996. While leaving the apartment, Djajic drove the movable property worth about KM 317,000 by truck to an unknown direction,” said the Prosecutor, reading the indictment.

Milenko Vojo Radovic, Defence attorney of indictee Djajic, said that, through the cross-examination of witnesses, he would question their credibility.

“The Defence will specifically challenge the credibility of witness Klaric. We shall point to contradictions in his statement and prove that a verdict of conviction cannot be rendered on the basis of his and other witnesses’ statements,” Radovic said.

Also, he said that the actions undertaken by his client were not as interpreted by Srecko Klaric, adding that Djajic performed those actions as a common policeman.

“The Defence will prove that the indictee did not have a direct intent and that there was no link between the indictee’s incriminated action and the armed conflict,” the Defence attorney said.

The trial is due to continue on June 14, when injured party Klaric will testify.
A.S.