Witnesses Describe Beatings by Bosnian Army Fighters in Zenica
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Saric, a former Bosnian Army officer and Djerahovic, a former Bosnian Army fighter, are charged with the abuse and assault of civilians. According to the charges, Andjelko Bozic (Nedeljko Bozic’s father) died from the abuse he suffered, and his sons were beaten.
Nedeljko Bozic said that he was abducted from his home in Bukovica, near Zenica, along with his father and brother on June 16, 1992. They were abducted by soldiers who tied them up with wire and beat them.
“A group of ten took me to the cemetery so I could show them where the ammunition was. I recognized my classmate and work colleague Sedjad Djerahovic. He seemed to be in charge,” Bozic said.
According to Bozic, he was abused and spat on at the cemetery. Then, he was told to stand against a tree and the soldiers threatened to kill him. The soldiers, Bozic said, fired shots around him.
Bozic said he was then taken back to his home and taken to a place called Tetovo, where he was beaten again.
“Then we were taken to the office of commander Jasmin Saric. I didn’t know him but his phone rang and that’s what he said his name was. He didn’t hit but he did hit my father. They separated us and I heard my father scream. I was hit in the head several times. I could hear voices but I didn’t feel my body. Finally I felt like I was lifted and placed on top of a body,” Bozic said.
Bozic said he then heard someone remark angrily, “What did you, you killed them both. This isn’t the way to do it, to create a country.”
Bozic said he didn’t see his father again. He said he found out that his father had passed away later, during his confinement in the Zenica prison. Bozic and his brother were both detained in the Zenica prison.
During cross examination by Saric’s defense, Bozic said he was beaten during his detainment by a man named Milan Lazic, who he didn’t know, and threatened by Rajko Stjepanovic.
Witness Veseljko Bozic, Nedeljko’s brother, said he remembered Nedeljko’s friend Sedjad was among the soldiers who beat him. Veseljko Bozic was only 16 in 1992.
Veseljko Bozic said he was taken to a hall filled with soldiers and beaten. Afterwards he was thrown into the office of commander Saric. Veseljko Bozic then said he was thrown onto a truck with another body.
“I called out to him, ‘Dad, Dad,’ but nothing…He didn’t breathe or move. They stopped and said, ‘Throw that shit and run.’ I found out later that this was outside the clinic, since they had said on the radio that an unknown body was thrown there”, Veseljko Bozic said.
Both witnesses said that during their detainment the Zenica prison doctor told them they had bruised chests, broken ribs, and other injuries.
The trial continues on April 7.
