Questions about Military Expert’s Competence

Mladic’s Defence attorney Dejan Ivetic examined expert Theunens in detail about the methodology applied during the analysis of Republika Srpska Army, VRS, documents, suggesting that it was not correct. Also, the Defence attorney suggested that Theunens was not impartial, because he was employed with the Hague Prosecution from 2001 to 2009.

Theunens responded by saying that “there were no external influences” on what he wrote in his report.

“Prosecutor Dermot Groome asked me if I could prepare a report for Mladic’s trial. I saw that as an honour and I accepted to do it,” Theunens said.

Theunens, who is the last Hague Prosecution witness at Mladic’s trial, began testifying last week, when he described the indictee as “a very active” commander, who “led” the operations in the field.

Theunens said that, under Mladic’s command, the VRS achieved the strategic goals, first of which was separation of Serbs from Bosniaks and Croats. He said that he had not come across any orders issued by Mladic, ordering an investigation against crime perpetrators among his soldiers.

Mladic is on trial for genocide in Srebrenica, persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, which reached the scale of genocide in seven municipalities, terror against civilians in Sarajevo by long-lasting shelling and sniping and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.

Mladic’s attorney asked Theunens what his salary was, while he worked with The Hague Prosecution, and whether he received an additional fee for writing reports after having left his job.

Theunens responded negatively. Presiding judge Alphons Orie told the Defence attorney that all United Nations officials were “well-paid” and asked him why that question was relevant.

Commenting on the substance of the expert’s report, Defence attorney Ivetic said that the VRS’ Main Headquarters had only “about ten” officers in 1992 and that it could therefore not have a complete command and control over the VRS.

Theunens confirmed that it was correct “theoretically”, but he pointed to VRS documents, according to which the command and control system functioned well.

Mladic’s Defence is due to continue cross-examining Theunens on Tuesday, December 10.