Former Bosniak Police Commander Says Serb Detainees Werent Mistreated in Stupari
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Mujcinovic said that although he didnt have the decision in writing, he became the head of the Stupari police station on June 1, 1992.
Mujcinovic denied that the police illegally arrested Serb civilians in May and June 1992. He said that people were not being arrested, but were being brought to Stupari during June 1992.
When asked how Serbs were being brought to the center of Stupari, Mujcinovic said he didnt know, because he was elsewhere at the time.
Mujcinovic, Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Zijad Hamzic, Ramiz Halilovic, Nedzad Hodzic, Osman Gogic and Kahro Vejzovic are charged with the illegal detention of Serb civilians, who were abused and treated inhumanely in Stupari. All the defendants are former members of the civilian and military police, as well as the Territorial Defence.
Mujcinovic said that the detained Serb civilians were held at a school in Stupari, and were eventually transferred to a nearby building for teachers. Mujcinovic said that the transfer was requested by the civilians themselves, since a high number of refugees from Podrinje arrived to Stupari at the time.
Mujcinovic said the police had an obligation to secure the building for teachers, so that certain people wouldnt enter.
According to Mujcinovic, the Serbs in Stupari held a meeting with the Kladanj wartime presidency and requested to leave the municipality. This request wasnt met, said Mujcinovic, because soon after fighting erupted in the area. Mujcinovic said the wartime presidency ordered the police to continue securing the civilians.
As it turned out, they stayed a lot longer, Mujcinovic said.
He said the detained Serbs could move freely around Stupari, but had to abide by a curfew. According to Mujcinovic, they also had access to pensions, doctors, and humanitarian aid.
Mujcinovic said the Tuzla regional police headquarters knew about the Serb civilians who were held in Stupari in the summer of 1992. He said some of those civilians were questioned by Tuzlas prosecution office.
Mujcinovic will continue his testimony on March 13.
