Local Justice – Sarajevo: Beaten up in Police Station

Srecko Klaric told the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo that indictee Djajic hit him with his fist in the Police Station in Ilidza and that two other policemen then hit him as well.

“Djajic came and told me that they had a problem with me, because I was a Croat and many people wanted to take my house from me. He said that his men had to guard me, so the best thing for me would be to leave Sarajevo. (…) He cursed my Croat mother and hit me in my face with his fist. I fell down. My glasses dropped off. Two other men approached me and began hitting me,” Klaric said, adding that he found the indictee’s name out later on.

He said that he noticed that his denture was broken as a consequence of Djajic’s hit.

Klaric said that Djajic then drove him in a Mercedes from the police station to a minefield and handed him over to a Republika Srpska Army, VRS member, who showed him the way, because the area was mined. The witness said that another policeman, who held his revolver pointed at him, was with them in the car.

After the soldier showed him the way, the witness went to the Croatian Defence Council, HVO checkpoint in Lepenica, Kiseljak municipality and then to Kresevo.

Klaric said that, on the following day his neighbours informed him that Dusko Djajic was in his apartment.
The indictment alleges that, at the beginning of November 1995 Djajic ordered armed policemen to bring Srecko Klaric to the Police Station, under the pretext that he wanted to conduct an informative interview with him. When Klaric was brought to the Station, he allegedly told him that he had to leave his apartment and the Republika Srpska, RS territory, considering the fact that he was “a Croat and that he might be liquidated”.

According to the charges, Djajic was a Crime Inspector with the Public Safety Station in Ilidza at that time.
“After Djajic had refused to leave his apartment, Djajic cursed his Croat mother and hit him in his face with his fist. The injured party fell off the chair, while other policemen continued hitting him with their legs and fists,” the indictment alleges.

It is further alleged that, following the beating, Djajic drove the injured party to a VRS checkpoint at Kobiljaca and handed him over to a soldier, who escorted him to a by-road and told him not to step out of it, because the area was mined.

“On November 2, 1995 Djajic moved into Klaric’s apartment. He lived in it until March 1996. When leaving the apartment, Djajic drove the movable property worth 317,000 KM by truck in unknown direction,” the indictment alleges.

Klaric said that he returned to his apartment on March 8, 1996, adding that he found Djajic’s photograph and a document about his promotion in his apartment. According to the witness, his neighbours confirmed that Djajic lived in his apartment. He said that he did not find his belongings in it, but just a few books scattered around.

“The place looked like a horror movie scene. No windows, stains on the walls and faeces in several places,” Klaric recalled, adding that anybody could enter the apartment.

The witness said that, after he had filed a report, Djajic’s friend, also a Croat, visited him and said that he was willing to make a deal. He said that he told him that he did not accept that.

“I do not want to make any deals,” Klaric said, adding that, for a certain period of time he received anonymous phone calls, telling him to give up the suit or else anything could happen to him.

The trial is due to continue on July 12, when two witnesses will be examined. A.S.