Memic et al: Intercepted Conversations
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Prosecutor Vesna Budimir said that she also presented evidence, confirming that the conversations were recorded in accordance with the law. As she said, the conversations were recorded by the Intelligence and Security Agency, OSA, as per a decision by the wartime Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The decree on the basics of the state security system, which has the powers of a law, represents the legal framework for confirming the lawfulness of interception of certain individuals in case there is grounded suspicion that those individuals are undermining society, Budimir said.
Complete audio recordings of telephone conversations between Halilovic and Alispago, Bojadzic and Alispago, as well as Bojadzic and Halilovic were heard at this hearing.
During a conversation of March 19, 1993 indictee Alispago requested Halilovic to provide money for soldiers. He responded by saying that he could promise to give 50 Marks to each of them.
Also, the indictee requested Halilovics approval to confiscate whatever he wanted.
It could be heard on the second audio recording that Bojadzic told Alispago on March 29, 1993 that they heard on the radio that Zuka appeared in some Croat village, causing turmoil. Zuka could then be heard cursing.
During a conversation of April 16, 1993 Alispago requested Halilovic to urgently provide him with between ten and 15 walkie-talkie devices, because he needed them.
Besides Alispago and Bojadzic, Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin and Nedzad Hodzic, former members of Zulfikar Squad, as well as Senad Hakalovic, former member of Neretvica Brigade, are on trial for crimes committed in Trusina, where 18 Croat civilians and four captured members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO were killed in April 1993.
The Hague Tribunal pronounced a second instance verdict, acquitting Halilovic, former Chief of Main Command Headquarters of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, of the charges that he committed crimes in Grabovica and Uzdol villages.
The Defence of Hakalovic and Bojadzic said at this hearing that the interception was completely unlawful, while Fahrija Karkin, Defence attorney of indictee Alispago, said that there were differences between the transcripts and audio recordings.
The Court is due to continue hearing audio recordings on February 18.
