Killing a Prisoner in Military Barracks

As the trial for crimes in the Central Prison and “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks in Sarajevo continues, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina presents several pieces of material evidence about the death of one prisoner.

The State Prosecution presented a prison card for prisoner Uros Rakanovic, which indicated that he was arrested in June 1992, as well as a daily report about prisoners held in the semi-open Penal and Correctional Facility dated June 17, 1992.

Besides that, the State Prosecution introduced a document, ordering Rakanovic into custody, as well as an order by the District Court Martial in Sarajevo to escort him to Kosevo hospital due to health problems in mid-December 1992.

The last piece of evidence presented by the Prosecution was a list of deceased persons, who were brought to the morgue of the Clinical Centre of the Sarajevo University. Rakanovic’s name was on that list.

Uros Rakanovic’s daughter testified at a hearing held on December 13 this year, when she said that she found out that her father died in “Viktor Bubanj”.

The Defence of indictee Iulian-Nicolae Vintila objected to the inclusion of these pieces of evidence in the case file.

“We propose to the Court to reject all these pieces of evidence, because they are not properly certified. (…) Some of the pieces of evidence contain a stamp, but no signature, so we do not know where the documents come from. Also, there is neither a presumption of correctness nor legal process,” said Defence attorney Vlado Adamovic.

The Trial Chamber admitted the documents in the case file, but it will appraise them later on.

Vintila and Ramiz Avdovic 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.  

Statements given by deceased witnesses were due to be read at this hearing, but the Defence objected, because, in its opinion, those minutes were taken during investigation conducted in another case. Therefore they requested an order to conduct the investigation to be submitted to them for review.

The Trial Chamber ordered the State Prosecution to provide it with an order to conduct the investigation so to check whether Avdovic and Vintila were also covered by the investigation.

The trial is due to continue on January 17, 2014.