Unlawful Detention Stopped

Testifying at the trial for crimes in Sarajevo, a State Prosecution witness says that he was a member of a commission, which was formed in the summer of 1992 with the aim of preventing the unlawful detention of civilians in the “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks.

Witness Miodrag Simovic said that, at the beginning of the war he was elected member of the wartime Government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH. He said that, as per a decision by the Presidency of BiH, a commission was formed, on June 17, 1992, with the aim of controlling the behaviour by members of the Territorial Defence, TO, and police, conducting search, examination and detention of citizens.

“Problems related to the taking away and unlawful deprivation of liberty, as well as confiscation of cars and pillaging of apartments, appeared. We received complaints from citizens belonging to all ethnic groups,” Simovic explained.

As he said, they once received information about the detention of citizens in the “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks, so members of the Commission visited the barracks.

“When we came, we met attorney Fahrija Karkin, who was legal advisor to the Manager. He told us immediately that not everything was supported by documentation,” Simovic said, adding that he did not notice signs of violence on the detained people.

He said that he made a report on the current situation, which indicated that a certain number of persons were detained without detention decisions or orders, adding that they informed the Presidency of BiH about it.

“The situation had changed drastically when we came for the second time. This was a sign that the establishment of the Commission with the aim of preventing that was a good move,” Simovic said.
Ramiz Avdovic and Iulian-Nicolae Vintila are on trial for having committed crimes in “Viktor Bubanj” from the summer of 1992 to 1993. They are charged with having participated in the establishment and maintenance of a system for abuse of Serb civilians, some of whom died.

The State Prosecution alleges that Avdovic was Commander of guards on the fifth floor of the District Prison in Sarajevo and former “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks, while Vintila was a cook and guard in the former barracks.

When asked by Vlado Adamovic, Defence attorney of Vintila, whether the witness considered that the barracks was used as detention camp, Simovic answered negatively. Also, responding to another question, he said that he had not heard “about the group of people, including Avdovic and Vintilla, whose members joined together in order to bring Serbs and abuse them”.

Witness Milka Ceranic said that her husband was taken away on July 26, 1992 and that he had never come back.

“A uniformed man came to the building and told my husband to come with him in order to evacuate the wounded. I have never seen him again,” Ceranic said.

As she said, she heard different stories about where her husband was taken to. One of them said that he was in the “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks.

“An exhumation of bodies was conducted in 2007. Dr. Ilijas Dobraca said that he died a violent death,” the witness said.

The next hearing is due to be held on December 13.