Different Testimonies on Smoluca

Cantonal Prosecution witness Nadil Poljakovic said that members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, captured him in 1992 and detained him in Smoluca, where they tied him to an improvised cross in the school building basement premises.

“I was lying in a flooded room. My whole body was under the water. Only a part of my face was above the water level. VRS members urinated on me. Vlado Todorovic, whom I had known from before, saw that and asked me which soldier had tied me like that. I did not respond. He then sent two members of military police home in order to bring soap and towel, as well as some clothes. After that I was taken to a nearby river in order to wash myself,” Poljakovic said.

While testifying in the courtroom, he was faced with Defence witness Vlado Todorovic, who said that he had not known Poljakovic before the war, adding that he had never heard the story about him being tied to a cross.

“I issued an order to the guards to pay special attention to prisoners of war. I deny all other parts of Poljakovic’s statement except the part in which he said that I sent soldiers to bring soap and towels so that he could wash himself in the river,” Todorovic said.

The Cantonal Prosecution in Tuzla charges Milorad Cvijanovic, known as Micko, Milorad Cvijanovic, son of Milan, Svetomir Ilic and Vaso Ilic with crimes against prisoners in the Lukavac area in June and Julz 1992.

At this hearing Todorovic also faced Hazim Zukic, former member of the Territorial Defence, who was captured in Smoluca.
Zukic said that VRS members forced him to hit Nadil Poljakovic and Avdo Hodzic on their feet with a baton, but Todorovic denied this testimony too.

The continuation of the trial is scheduled for October 8, when a reconstruction of events will take place in Smoluca.