Verdict in Dautovic Trial Expected May 4
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Dautovic has been charged with participating in the physical abuse of civilians held at a health center in Velika Kladusa in June 1994. He had previously brought civilians to that location from the Drmaljevo detention camp, along with other members of the the National Defense of the Western Bosnia Autonomous Region (NDWBAR).
According to the charges, at the time Dautovic was the leader of the Interventions Group for Guarding Buildings and Persons for the Defense Ministry of the NDWBAR. He allegedly participated in the arrest of 15 detainees from Drmaljevo in August 1992. Rasim Erdic, was one of those detainees. Erdic allegedly died as a result of the abuse he endured.
In its closing statement, the cantonal prosecution said Dautovic should be pronounced guilty. Defense attorney Tatjana Savic said the accusations were generalizations, and that her client should be acquitted of all charges.
“The witnesses said they didn’t know the defendant. None of them recognized him in photographs during the investigation. What they knew was that they were told they were going to Sakib Dautovic to stretch, but none of them knew who he was or what he looked like,” Savic said.
Under a first instance verdict, Dautovic was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, but the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina revoked the verdict and ordered a retrial.
Prior the presentation of closing statements, Dautovic testified in his own defense. He said he didn’t apprehend the detainees from Drmaljevo in the summer of 1992, because at the time he was executing another task with members of his squad.
“Military lines were falling apart during those days. I had two free hours, so I headed home in order to prepare my family members for a possible departure from Velika Kladusa. As I was walking home, I noticed a group of people, so I approached them and asked what had happened. They told me one of the prisoners was sick. I asked if they’d called an ambulance, but they said no. I informed my people via a walkie-talkie. I waited for them to come, and then, when they drove him away, I went home,” Dautovic said.
He said on the following day he had heard on the radio that one of the Drmaljevo detainees had died.
A protected witness known as L.S. also testified at this hearing. L.S. was a member of the NDWBAR at the time of the alleged crimes. He told the court that he saw a group of people in the yard of the health center one day. He said other people told him those people had been brought from Drmeljevo for health exams.
“I saw many familiar faces among them, mostly prominent citizens of Velika Kladusa. When I came back later on, I heard strange voices coming from the premises, in the basement. It didn’t sound like somebody was talking or quarreling, but it sounded like crying and moaning. At that moment I realized what was going on. I went downstairs and began yelling at them. Those who mistreated those people ran away when they heard me coming. The room was dark and the living conditions were horrible. They were scared. Some were crying and looked beaten up,” L.S. recalled.
L.S. said he didn’t see Dautovic that night, but he heard he that was one of the men who beat the detainees sometimes.
“I personally never saw him mistreat or hit anyone,” L.S. said.
