Beating in Uzamnica

Mirsad Selimbegovic said that he was detained in Uzamnica detention camp on October 8, 1992 and that he stayed there until February 1994. 

Responding to a question by Prosecutor Seid Marusic, Selimbegovic said that he was beaten up in Uzamnica, but he did not remember who it was, adding that he was trying to suppress the memories and that he did not want to remember it. 

In his statement given to the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, in 2007 the witness said that he was beaten up by Milan and Sredoje Lukic.

“The guards let them in. In my opinion, they were unable to stop them,” the witness said, confirming that what was written in the statement was true. 

Selimbegovic said that he was not beaten by the guards, whom, as he said, he no longer remembered.

In his statement to SIPA the witness said that Jovan Popovic’s son was among the guards in Uzamnica detention camp. He confirmed the allegation at the trial as well.

He pointed out that he was a young guy, but, when asked by the Prosecution whether Goran Popovic was in the courtroom, the witness said that he would not be able to recognise him.

His father Jovan Popovic was originally charged in this same case with crimes in Visegrad, but the proceedings against him was separated due to his illness.

According to the State Prosecution’s charges, Goran Popovic, a former guard in Uzamnica detention camp, participated in the abuse, beating, torture and sexual abuse of Bosniak men and women in that detention camp in 1992. 

The Hague Tribunal sentenced Milan Lukic to life imprisonment for crimes committed in Visegrad, while Sredoje Lukic was sentenced to 27 years.

Witness Selimbegovic said that guards changed during the course of his detention in Uzamnica. He said that, in the beginning, detainees were tied with chains in couples.

“Guards, who were on duty, would chain us,” the witness said.

The trial is due to continue on January 14.