Criminal Reports against “Viktor Bubanj” Detainees

Emir Kapidzic, Defence attorney of indictee Vintila, among the 37 pieces of material evidence presented criminal reports against persons, who were held in the military prison in the former “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks in 1992.

The Defence presented several criminal reports of the District Court Martial in Sarajevo, including a criminal report against Branko Elez.

“Besides a verdict and minutes from the main trial, this criminal case contains a decision, ordering this person into custody. By presenting this piece of evidence, we are proving that a criminal process was conducted against witness Elez, that he was ordered into custody and that he was held in the military detention unit for that reason,” Defence attorney Kapidzic said.

Vintila and Ramiz Avdovic are charged with crimes against Serb civilians in “Viktor Bubanj” military barracks and on the fifth floor of the District Prison in Sarajevo. The Prosecution of BiH considers that civilians were unlawfully detained in those facilities, where they were subjected to suffering and torture and taken to other locations in order to perform forced labour.

According to the charges, 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.

The Defence of the second indictee also presented, as evidence, military registry entries for some of the witnesses, as well as a letter from the Sarajevo Cantonal Prosecution regarding the persons against whom criminal proceedings were conducted during 1992.

“We are presented a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, confirming that no police uniform and military boots were assigned to Vintila. Therefore, it is not registered that those things were ever assigned to him,” Kapidzic said.

Besides those pieces of evidence, the Defence also presented a report by the State Commission for control of unlawful actions by police and the Territorial Defence, TO, as well as several permissions, allowing journalistic crews to visit “Viktor Bubanj”.

The trial is due to continue on October 28, when two witnesses will testify in defence of indictee Vintila.