Mujcinovic and Hrustic: Verdict of Release Requested
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The pronouncement of the verdict is scheduled for October 2.
The Defence of the indictees pointed out that, following the presentation of State Prosecution’s evidence, it was still unclear who the perpetrators of the crime charged upon Mujcinovic and Hrustic were.
Midhat Skenderovic, Defence attorney of indictee Mujcinovic, said that the indictee could not have committed the crime for which he had been tried “for nearly two years”.
“I have been in the dock, while the perpetrators of this crime have freely walked the town’s streets. I hope that some serious investigation will reach them. I am innocent. I expect from you to pronounce a verdict of release and nothing else,” Mujcinovic said, presenting his closing statement.
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Mujcinovic and Hrustic, former members of the 21st Srebrenik Mountain Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, with having treated Serb civilians, who were detained in the Youth Centre in Rapatnica, near Srebrenik in the summer of 1992, in an inhumane manner.
The indictment alleges that Mujcinovic physically and mentally abused a prisoner several times and that he participated, along with Hrustic, in the abuse of another prisoner on several occasions.
The Defence of Hrustic proposed to the Court to acquit the indictee of the charges, saying that he was not present in the prison in Rapatnica and that he did not commit any crimes.
“Drago Djukic’s statement is the only piece of evidence, accusing Hrustic. This witness was not able to tell the Court how he found out what Hrustic’s identity was. Besides that, he was not able to clearly specify in what way Hrustic abused him,” Defence attorney Nedzla Sehic said.
Defence attorney Sehic pointed out that damage had been caused to indictee Hrustic, because his health condition had deteriorated. Also, she said that injustice had been done to the victims, because “the real perpetrators of this crime have been amnestied”.
“I have never even thought of being such a man and cause harm to other persons. I respected all people,” said indictee Hrustic, who cried, when certain parts of the closing statements were presented.
Presenting its closing statement on September 5, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that the indictees contributed to the commission of the crime, calling on the Court to pronounce a verdict of conviction.
