Contradictory Testimonies

As the trial for crimes in the Bratunac area continues, the Defence of indictee Najdan Mladjenovic says that State Prosecution witnesses’ statements given during the investigation were different from what they said at the trial.

For that reason Defence attorney Dejan Bogdanovic included statements given by nine witnesses during the investigation, pointing to the mentioned differences.

The presented statements included two previous statements given by witness Kadira Ramic, who, as said by the Defence attorney, did not mention Mladjenovic prior to the trial.

Testifying at the trial, Ramic said that indictee Najdan Mladjenovic, who had a black mask, but she recognised him by his “voice and figure”, was among the soldiers, who came to Camil Ramic’s house in Hranca village.  

“What she said at the trial was completely different from her previous statements,” Defence attorney Bogdanovic said.

Witness Ramic said at the trial that she had not mentioned Mladjenovic before, because she was afraid of him.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina alleges that Mladjenovic commanded an attack on Hranca village on May 3, 1992, when several Bosniak civilians were killed and captured and that he ordered others to set their houses on fire. According to the Prosecution’s allegations, six days later Mladjenovic commanded an attack on Glogova village and ordered the murder of more than 20 local Bosniak residents.

Mladjenovic is on trial along with Savo Zivkovic, who is charged with having participated in the attacks and deportation of civilians from those villages, as well as destruction of their property.

The indictment alleges that Mladjenovic was Commander of the Territorial Defence in Bratunac, while Zivkovic was its member. Defence attorney Bogdanovic presented two statements given by witness Refija Ahmetovic, saying that her testimonies were contradictory in terms of the possibility of recognising Mladjenovic and his actions.  

“There are three different versions about what the person with a stocking over his head did,” he said.

During the trial the witness said that she saw Mladjenovic in Hranca village on May 3, 1992, when the local residents were forced to leave the place.

The trial is due to continue on August 27