New Mental Health Examination of Nedzad Hodzic Ordered

The Bosnian state court decided to examine Nedzad Hodzic’s mental health again, in order to determine whether he is capable of following the trial proceedings. A mental health examination will be conducted by a team of experts led by court expert and neuropsychiatrist Omer Cemalovic.

Nedzad Hodzic, a former member of the Zulfikar Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been charged with the torture, assault, and sexual abuse of Serb prisoners on Mount Igman in 1993.

“The trial chamber decided that the team of experts, led by Omer Cemalovic, will review the medical records, and will assess and decide whether they will maintain their [original] findings and opinion,” said Jasmina Kosovic, the chairwoman of the trial chamber.

Kosovic said Hodzic’s complete medical records would be submitted to the team, including medical records from the time when Hodzic was hospitalized.

Defense attorney Nedza Sehic said she would request Cemalovic’s withdrawal, as she believed he arrived at his previous findings in an inappropriate way.

After Hodzic’s first mental health examination in October 2013, Cemalovic said Hodzic could attend the trial as long as the hearings were no longer than three hours and had short breaks. Cemalovic said Hodzic simulated mental illness, and as such there was no way to precisely describe his mental and psychological health.

Afterwards, another mental health examination was done by a team of experts led by neuropsychiatrist Abdulah Kucukalic. On February 26, 2015, Kucukalic said Hodzic was mentally incompetent and unable to follow the trial. He said he suffered from a permanent mental illness.

Kucukalic said that the team of experts who examined Hodzic found that damage to his brain had led to a permanent personality disorder, as well as the development of post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic epilepsy.

Hodzic was previously on trial with Dzevad Salcin for alleged war crimes committed on Mount Igman in Hadzici. The proceedings against Hodzic have been separated pending a decision on whether he is fit to stand trial.

The trial will continue on May 7.