State Prosecutions Calls for Guilty Verdict in Goran Popovic Trial

In today’s hearing of the Goran Popovic trial, prosecutor Seid Marusic gave his closing statements. He said the existence of a widespread and systematic attack against the non-Serb population in Visegrad has been proven, and that Popovic deliberately undertook actions that were a part of that attack.

Goran Popovic, a former guard at the Uzamnica detention camp, has been charged with participating in the assault, torture, and sexual abuse of Bosniak men and women in 1992.

Marusic called upon facts that were established in the Mitar Vasiljevic case, which were accepted by the state court for the purposes of this trial. The Vasiljevic case confirmed the persecution, enforced disappearance, and murder of the non-Serb population at the time of Popovic’s alleged crimes. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia sentenced Vasiljevic to 15 years in prison for crimes he committed in Visegrad.

“It wasn’t a weather induced disaster or an epidemic, but a catastrophe caused by men,” Marusic said.

According to Marusic, it is evident that Popovic was a member of the Bosnian Serb Army during the period of time covered by the indictment.

“The first count has been proven by witness Nurko Dervisevic’s testimony, who saw the defendant participate in the beating of Meho Becirevic at the Uzamnica detention camp…He recognized the defendant in the courtroom. He stuck to his statement without any sign that he simply desired revenge,” Marusic said.

Marusic said the trial chamber should pay particular attention to the elements of rape and torture in the case. He urged the trial chamber to seriously take into account testimony given by two protected witnesses known as S-3 and S-8. Their statements were supported by a statement given by witness Adem Berberovic.

Marusic said that the prosecution witnesses described inhumane and non-hygienic conditions in the detention camp, which included urination in buckets, the beating and humiliation of prisoners, and the deprivation of medical assistance.

He said the defense tried to deny the credibility of prosecution witnesses.

“In his previous statements Adem Berberovic said he was beaten up by Dragan, but, when testifying at the main trial, he said it was defendant Goran Popovic, who was sometimes called by other names as well,” Marusic said.

He said not a single element of the defense’s evidence was relevant to the case.

Marusic called on the court to gravely sentence Popovic. He said the state prosecution had adequately proven Popovic’s guilt.

The trial will continue on March 25, when the defense will present its closing statement.