Examination of Prosecution Witness Interrupted

Witness Dzevad Mahmutovic, former member of military police of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that he participated in the exchange of prisoners of war in 1995, but he did not remember the details, because he had two car accidents, in which he was injured, after the war.  
 
He said that he thought that he was tasked with guarding two hospitalised wounded prisoners from Bihac to Izacic.
 
“I think that no incidents happened, as far as I can remember,” Mahmutovic said.
 
The Trial Chamber interrupted his examination, explaining that previous witnesses identified him as the person, who hit the prisoners, so he should therefore get a legal counselor to assist him during his examination.
 
Husein Begic, Safet Kovacevic, Muhamed Anadolac, Abid Ljubijankic and Sabahudin Hafuric, former members of military police with the Fifth Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are charged with physical and mental mistreatment of more than 30 former members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, who were escorted from Cazin and Bihac to an exchange location on March 11, 1995.
 
At this hearing the Cantonal Prosecution examined Suhret Fazlic, former President of the Commission for Exchange of Prisoners of War of the Fifth Corps with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who said that the exchange that took place in Izacic on March 11, 1995 was “one of the biggest and most difficult” ones.
 
“The exchanged members of the Fifth Corps were in a very bad condition. They were physically and mentally exhausted, weak, pale, uncared for, untidy,” Fazlic said.
 
Fazlic said that he did not know in what condition the imprisoned Serb soldiers were, because it was not his job, but none of the persons in charge of the exchange on the Serb side protested on that day.
 
Witness Husnija Hamzic, driver of the bus, which transported the prisoners of war from Cazin and Bihac, said that he saw nothing, because he looked ahead of him.  
 
“I looked ahead of me. I did not turn back. I did hear some noise, something like hits, a few sobs and singing. However, I do not know which one of the soldiers did that. My task was just to drive the bus. That is what I did,” Hamzic said.
 
The trial is due to continue on February 28, when the examination of witness Dzevad Mahmutovic, who will be accompanied by attorney Mirsad Mesic, will be continued.