Witnesses Say Defendants in Socicka Company Case Contacted Them

A state prosecution witness known as MR-1 said that he was made to feel uncomfortable when contacted by defendants Sasa Perkovic, Pero Radovic, Ilija Vukasinovic, and Milos Vukasinovic, but that they didn’t try to influence him or change his testimony.

Perkovic, Radovic, and the Vukacinovics are all former members of the Socicka Company of the Rogaticka Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army. They are charged with participating in the murder of Bosniak civilians in 1992. The victims were primarily women, children, and the elderly.

The Bosnian state prosecution had requested that the court order the four defendants into custody in mid-February. The state court had postponed the hearing scheduled to examine witnesses who had allegedly been influenced by the defendants.

At today’s hearing, MR-1 said he met the Vukasinovics and Perkovic accidentally. He said they told him that they would “like to find out who is behind this case.”

MR-1 said that Radovic came to his door and asked him to sign a petition, which he refused to sign.

When asked whether he feared for his safety, MR-1 said he had “stage fright and discomfort.” When asked whether he was afraid of the defendants, MR-1 said that he wasn’t. He also said that the defendants did not attempt to influence him in any way.

During his examination, state prosecution witness MR-2 said he felt safe and that no one had exerted pressure on him.

MR-2 said Radovic also asked him to sign a petition, but left as soon as he refused to sign it.

The trial chamber will render a decision on the custody motion at a later stage.