Beatings in Military Barracks

As the trial for crimes committed in the Central Prison and “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks in Sarajevo continues, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina reads statements by deceased witnesses, who were held in those facilities.

Milorad Sekara said, in his statement, that unknown soldiers hit him several times during his detention in the Central Prison and military barracks.

“When I went for a bath in the toilet, I was hit by the man, who was a cook during my first detention and guard during the second one,” Sekara said.

Crimes committed in “Viktor Bubanj” from the summer of 1992 to 1993 are charged upon Iulian-Nicolae Vintila and Ramiz Avdovic. 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.

Vintila’s Defence said that it would ask witness Sekara about the identity of the person, who hit him at that time, because it was not clear who the person was.

In his statement Sekara said that he saw guards carrying the body of a prisoner, but he did not know what caused the man’s death, adding that he did not see if the guards beat him up.

This witness said that it was known that women too were held in the military barracks, adding that he heard rumours that one of them was raped.

A statement given by Milos Odzakovic indicated that he was detained in the military barracks for five days and that he was beaten up by two unknown men, one of whom was drink, one night.

Third witness Nedjeljko Corovic said, in his statement, that he and his wife were detained in the military barracks for five days and that nobody beat him up.

The trial is due to continue on January 31.