Mato Condric Trial Begins

The Mato Condric trial began today with a reading of the indictment and a presentation of the prosecution’s introductory statement.

Condric, as former member of the Croatian Defence Council’s military police (HVO), has been charged with enabling two unidentified HVO soldiers to rape a woman in the boiler room of the Polet football stadium in Bosanski Brod in late July or early August, 1992.

The indictment alleges that Condric pointed a pistol at the woman and sexually abused and humiliated her after her rape.

Condric is also charged with participating in the mental and physical abuse of one person. The abuse took place after Condric received an order to beat the person with five other policemen on the premises of the old public safety station in Bosanski Brod on June 2, 1992.

Prosecutor Milanko Kajganic said that the victim lost consciousness several times during the beating.

According to Kajganic, in late July or early August 1992, the defendant and another HVO member beat a person inside a prison located in the storage area of the Beograd general store in Tulek, Bosanski Brod.

Following the reading of the indictment, Condric addressed the trial chamber.

“It was hard for me to listen to that. I have nothing to do with it,” he said.

Kajganic said he would prove that Condric was a member of the HVO’s military police in the period covered by the indictment. He said that certain witnesses would confirm this. Kajganic said he would prove that the injured parties were civilians and that the defendant was individually responsible for the crimes he committed.

“The only thing that is true is the fact that he was a member of the 101st Brigade of the HVO police. Nothing else is true. We reject the charges,” said Condric’s defense attorney, Davor Silic.

According to Silic, the prosecution had incorrectly identified Condric as the perpetrator, because there were three persons named Mato who had served alongside Condric at the time of the alleged crimes.

Silic said that Mato Condric was mentioned for the first time in relation to these crimes in 2014.

“The key persons, who committed those actions, have not been identified…The indictment against Mato has been filed. The others are not here,” Silic said.

The trial will continue on March 4.