Beatings and Terrible Conditions at the “Viktor Bubanj” Military Barracks

Under the indictment of the State Prosecution, Avdovic and Vintila, as members of the joint criminal enterprise, are indicted with having participated in the establishment and maintenance of a system for abuse of Serb civilians.According to the Prosecution, civilians were unlawfully detained on the fifth floor of the District Prison and the military prison in the former “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks. The indictment alleges that physical and emotional pain was inflicted to the detainees who were in the “Viktor Bubanj” barracks, and that they were tortured and taken to forced labour.Avdovic is indicted for having been Commander of Guards in these facilities, while Vintila was a cook and guard in the former military barracks.Together with Avdovic and Vintila, Besim Muderizovic was charged as Deputy Manager on the fifth floor of the District Prison and Commander of the military prison in the “Viktor Bubanj” barracks. He died eight months after the trial started. The trial began on March 22, 2012, and during the presentation of evidence, the Prosecution interrogated 47 witnesses and two expert witnesses, and included over 240 pieces of material evidence.Beating Up Upon Arrival at the Military BarracksDuring the trial, the Prosecution claimed that civilians were detained but that they were not told the reason for detention. They were also taken into custody without criminal proceedings being taken against them. Several witnesses said that they were taken out from their homes in the area of Sarajevo and were detained in other facilities from which they were moved to the Central Prison or “Viktor Bubanj” barracks.Protected witness A said that he was taken to the Central Prison on July 13, 1992. After two or three days, he was transferred from there to the former military barracks.“When they took us into the hall of the barracks, one police officer began to shout: ‘Chetniks gang, against the wall, hands up!’ He said to us to stand astride and then he went from one to another and kicked us in the genitals. I lost consciousness from the kick,” said A.Nikola Jeremic and Jovo Elez, who are brought in the barracks in the middle of 1992, spoke about beating after they were taken into the facility.“There was a military cordon, and as we got out of the van, they would hit someone. When we entered ‘Viktor Bubanj’ barracks, we were ordered to spread our legs and go up against the wall, and we were kicked,” said Elez.According to witnesses, upon arrival at the military barracks, they are accommodated in small and inadequate cells. Milorad Janjic said that he and 12 other prisoners were placed in a single cell.“We had four mattresses, we did not have enough blankets, but we did not need them because there were many of us there. The cell was windowless, and 13 persons could not lie on their backs in it,” said Janjic.Terrible Conditions in “Viktor Bubanj“ BarracksFormer detainees described the conditions of stay in ““Viktor Bubanj“ military barracks as appalling. Radivoje Skobo said that during his stay in this facility he only once took a bath, and that food which was given to detainees was bad. This is confirmed by the protected witness B, who worked in kitchen during her detention, saying that the detainees were not getting enough food. “For breakfast, they were given a cup of tea and a slice of bread to detainees, and for lunch, a bowl of diluted soup. It was awful”, said B. In addition to the poor conditions of stay, former detainees also talked about how the guards beat and abused them. Witness A said that during his stay, only two guards “treated them humanely”. Radmilo Codo said that Fahro Alic beat him three days after he was brought to the barracks.“He said to me: ‘Stand against the wall, turn around, put your hands up’! He hit me two or three times. I fell on the floor, because I was so hurt pretty bad. He started hitting me in the stomach. I fainted, and when I came to my senses, I was wet and there was a bucket next to me. The blood