Accordion Played during Beating

Witness Luka Kajtez recognised himself on a video recording depicting the happenings in the bus, which was played in the courtroom. He said that all prisoners had yellow blindfolds.

“Soldiers beat us with batons, rifle butts and legs. During that time a person played an accordion in the bus,” Kajtez said.

Witness Slavko Anicic said that nothing else but the beating happened in the bus during the 40-minute drive. 

“When we got on the bus, they blindfolded us. After we had left the town, they began hitting us on our backs and shoulders,” Anicic said.
 
The indictment charges Husein Begic, former Commander of a military police squad with the Fifth Corps of ABiH, Safet Kovacevic, Muhamed Anadolac, Abid Ljubijankic and Sabahudin Hafuric, former military policemen, with physical and mental mistreatment of 31 prisoners of war, members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, while escorting them from Cazin and Bihac to an exchange location. 
 
Witness Milan Gvozdenovic said that he was still trying to suppress his memories about the event in the bus due to the traumas he experienced on that occasion.

“I would not even wish that to happen to my worst enemy,” Gvozdenovic said.

Witness Perica Kerkez said that he was first detained in a prison in Luke and then transported by bus in order to be exchanged. He said that he was mistreated during the bus ride. 

None of the four witnesses knew who the people who mistreated them during the transportation to the exchange location were.

The trial is due to continue on November 15.