Bosniak Policeman Awaits Kladanj Prisoner Abuse Verdict

Prosecutor Dragan Corlija said in his closing arguments at the Sarajevo court on Wednesday that it had been proved that Habibovic, along with two other people, participated in the beating of a prisoner called Ladimir Dragic at the beginning of June 1992.

After the beating, Dragic committed suicide, prosecutors allege.

Corlija said that the defendant had admitted that he secured buildings near the old school in Stupari, where Serb prisoners were held.

He cited the testimony of one witness who recognised the defendant among the policemen at the school, as well as a statement from another witness, Vitomir Andric, who “characterised him as one of the worst policemen”.

Andric said in the statement that he was questioned in the room where Habibovic and two others assaulted Dragic.

He said that Dragic was beaten with fists, kicked with boots and jumped upon during an assault that lasted for half an hour.

The prosecutor said that many witnesses confirmed what kind of state Dragic was in after the beating, and some of them also spoke about the defendant’s inhumane treatment of Serbs detained in Stupari.

The defence however said in its closing statement that the prosecution failed to prove it was a war crime, because the beating and Dragic’s suicide happened ten days before the state of war was announced in Bosnia.

It also said that the prosecution did not prove that Dragic was a civilian, or that Habibovic took part in the beatings.

It insisted that it had shown that the defendant was not even in Stupari on June 9 and 10, when Dragic was beaten.

Habibovic meanwhile told the court said that he was “crying because of the injustice” of the trial and said that he does not know if acquittal will bring his health and reputation back.

The court will hand down the verdict on November 12.