Former Doboj Prison Guard Testifies in Own Defense

Ninkovic has been charged with war crimes against civilians which took place at the district prison of Doboj. He was a guard at the prison from 1985 until his retirement in 2000.

“I worked according to the rules of engagement. I didn’t mistreat or beat anyone,” Ninkovic said.

Ninkovic denied allegations made by prosecution witness Mirza Lisinovic. Lisinovic, a former prisoner, said Ninkovic had punched him in the head during his detention.

“He said I hit him with my fist. I might have pushed him away,” Ninkovic said.

Ninkovic said he wasn’t on duty when prisoners Jozo Matanovic and Marko Kikic died.

“My colleague Petricevic told me Matanovic was carried in a blanket from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was totally broken. I did not see that…I wasn’t on duty when Marko Kikic died. My boss ordered an investigation and took statements from the guards who were on duty,” Ninkovic said.

When asked by the prosecution about the results of the investigation, Ninkovic said no disciplinary measures were taken and no one was fired.

He said in certain instances prisoners were taken away from the prison, citing prisoner labour as one of those instances. He said some of the prisoners never came back.

“It so happened that some prisoners didn’t come back. We made a note of it,” Ninkovic said.

Ninkovic said he didn’t know anything about prisoner Avdo Kutrovic, who was taken out of his cell. He said he also didn’t notice any injuries on prisoner Saban Ibrakovic’s body.

Ninkovic said the guards weren’t able to confront members of the Red Berets paramilitary formation, who used to bring in and take away people from the prison without any warrants.

“We asked our manager to protect us. It lasted until a small piece of paper bearing the signature of their boss arrived,” Ninkovic said.

Branislav Ninkovic has been charged with participating in the torture and abuse of non-Serb civilians detained at the Doboj prison from May 1992 to March 1993. The detention resulted in the severe mental and physical suffering, bodily injury and death of the detainees.

The defense presented material evidence that included documents from the Doboj prison and said it would present the prison registry at the next hearing.

The trial will continue on May 11.