Memic et al: Indictees Statements Given during Investigation Included as Evidence
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Salcin, former member of Zulfikar Unit with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, said that, during the attack on Trusina on April 16, 1993 he guarded civilians, as per an order by military operations leader Samir Semsovic, because he had difficulties walking due to an earlier injury.
As he said, when it started raining, he and the civilians went into a house.
I treated them in a correct and humane manner. I offered the women a lighter to light their cigarettes. I did not insult them or said any bad words to them, Salcin said during the investigation.
As he said, following his arrival to Gaj hamlet, somebody said that men should be brought to him and ordered the witness to take women behind a barn.
I heard one or two voices: Shooting squad, get ready! I then heard shooting, Salcin said.
He is charged with having participated in the lining of about 14 civilians and three soldiers next to a house in Gaj, while threatening them that they would be killed, calling them names and confiscating their money, golden jewellry and other valuable possessions.
Salcin said that he did not see Memic, Bojadzic and indictee Zulfikar Alispago prior, during or after the operation in Trusina.
Indictee Memic, another former member of Zulfikar Unit, said, during his examination, that he did not participate in the attack on the village and that he absolutely does not understand why his name is associated with these events.
During the investigation Hodzic said that he spoke to Alispago in Sarajevo after the war and that Alispago told him: Trusina is your fault. He responded by saying that he did not remember that.
Defence attorney Midhat Koco said that the statement could not be used at this trial, because Hodzic gave it in absence of his Defence attorney, adding that a doctor had previously determined that he was not capable of anything. At the beginning of the statement it was said that the communication with Hodzic was somewhat difficult.
Hodzic, former member of Zulfikar Unit, is charged with having issued the order and participated in the shooting of members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, who had previously surrendered.
Bojadzic, former Deputy Commander of Zulfikar Unit, who is charged with having commanded the attack from a nearby hill and told his men that they must not leave any survivors in the village, denied having been linked with the crime during the investigation.
He said that, in the morning on April 16, 1993 he visited Alispago in Tarcin, near Hadzici and then went to Bradina, near Konjic.
Upon my arrival, I found out about the combats in Konjic in which members of the Unit participated, he said in his statement.
Bojadzic said that he transported his comrade Samir Semsovic, known as Samko, from Bradina to a hospital in Suhodol, where doctors determined his death.
I neither know anything about the crimes, nor did I participate in them, Bojadzic said.
Indictee Senad Hakalovic presented his defence during the investigation, but his statement was not read in the courtroom.
The trial is due to continue on January 28.
A.J.
