Klickovic et al: Retrial Begins

Presenting its introductory arguments, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that it would prove that indictees Klickovic and Drljaca committed attacks against non-Serb civilians in Bosanska Krupa and that they were responsible for a joint criminal enterprise.

“By the proposed evidence, which, in our opinion, should be presented again, we shall prove that an attack against non-Serb civilians was conducted. The attacks were conducted in the same manner and led to death of a certain number of local residents,” said Prosecutor Dzevad Muratbegovic.

According to the charges, Klickovic was President of the wartime Presidency and Commander of the Crisis Committee of the Serb municipality of Bosanska Krupa and Drljaca was a Chamber President with the temporary Court Martial in Jasenica.

Under a first instance verdict pronounced in November 2010, Klickovic and Drljaca were acquitted of the charges that they participated in a joint criminal enterprise with the aim of dividing Bosanska Krupa municipality and creating territories where Serbs would be the absolute majority.

In May this year the Appellate Chamber quashed the first instance verdict, under which Klickovic and Drljaca were acquitted of charges, and ordered a retrial. The verdict of release against Jovan Ostojic was confirmed. The former Commander of the 11th Krupa Light Infantry Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army was originally charged under the same indictment as these two indictees.

Indictee Klickovic said that “there are already five indictments for the same crime”, adding that he could not understand indictments, which were changed “every few months”.

“This proceeding has been going on for 20 years. The Prosecution is still conducting an investigation. As far as I am concerned, they can continue with the investigation for the next 20 years, but they will not be able to prove anything, because there were no crimes,” Klickovic said.

The Defence of indictee Drljaca pointed out that it did not object to the State Prosecution’s proposed list of evidence, because those pieces of evidence are in favour of the Defence, but it considered that it was not necessary to examine new witnesses about the circumstances that had been covered by testimonies by previous witnesses.

“I do not have problems with the examination of witnesses, but we will lose time by doing it. The list of proposed witnesses should be reduced. I am afraid that we will stay here for another three years,” indictee Drljaca said.

At the next hearing, the Appellate Chamber will announce whether it accepts the list of evidence proposed by the State Prosecution or not.

The next hearing is due to be held on Monday, July 9.