Hodzic and Salcin Cases Separated

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided to separate the Nedzad Hodzic and Dzevad Salcin cases, until Hodzic’s ability to follow the trial is established.

Hodzic and Salcin, both former members of the Zulfikar Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, have been charged with the torture, assault, and sexual abuse of Serb prisoners on Mount Igman in 1993.

Trial chamber chairwoman Jasmina Kosovic said the cases of the two defendants would be separated pending a conclusive decision on Hodzic’s ability to follow the trial. She said a decision on how the trial process would take place in the future has still not been established.

“The proceedings against Hodzic are postponed until further notice,” Kosovic said.

The prosecution objected to the decision, but Kosovic said the decision could not be appealed.

Prosecutor Vladimir Simovic presented several pieces of material evidence regarding Hodzic’s mental health, including video recordings and photographs.

The video recordings depict Hodzic walking and shopping, while the photographs depict Hodzic spending time with his family.

Simovic said the video recordings and photographs were evidence that had been presented at the Trusina case.

Nedzla Sehic, Hodzic’s defense attorney, objected to the evidence presented. Sehic said he hadn’t seen the evidence before and that it had not been included as evidence in the Trusina case.

“We deny the lawfulness of the presentation of evidence,” Sehic said.

Sehic also objected to including the findings of a 2009 expert examination of Hodzic in the case file. This evidence had been brought forward by the prosecution.

Sehic presented the findings of Abdulah Kucukalic, a court expert in neuropsychiatry, as material evidence supporting Hodzic’s poor mental health. Kucukalic’s findings had also been presented at a previous hearing.

The prosecution objected to the evidence and to Kucukalic’s examination, and requested that new evidence on Hodzic’s mental health be provided.

“If the prosecution requests that new court experts be examined, I shall request that each court policeman be examined as well…There is no reason to deny Kucukalic’s findings,” Sehic said.

The Salcin trial will continue on March 19.