Witness Describes Assault at Musala Detention Camp

Ramo Zilic and Esad Gakic have been charged with inhumane treatment of Croat and Serb civilians who were detained on the premises of the Musala school building in Konjic.They allegedly caused great suffering among the detainees, and violated their bodily integrity and personal dignity.

Testifying for the cantonal prosecution of Mostar via video link from Sweden, Kuljanin said he was held in Musala from August 1992 until the beginning of October 1994.

“Zilic and Gakic beat me before I walked out of the detention camp. I went to the toilet from the locker room. Both of them followed me and started beating me. They hit me with a baton, their legs, their hands, their rifles. Gakic had a baton and Ramo had a rifle. They knocked me down on the floor, so I was facing the ground. They hit me on the head and even more on my back. Blood was pouring out of my mouth,” Kuljanin said.

Kuljanin showed a scar on his head to the court. He said the scar was caused by a crack on his skull. He also presented an injury on his leg. He said he had mental problems as a result of the torture he endured at the detention camp, and needs to take sedatives in order to sleep.

During cross-examination, Kuljanin was asked by he had said in a statement previously given in 2013 that Ramo Zilic’s name was Bubalo. Kuljanin responded by saying, “At the time I thought his last name was Bubalo.”

Kuljanin was also asked why he had said during the investigation phase of the case that the beating began in the locker room and continued in the corridor and the bathroom. Kuljanin said the defendants started beating him the locker room and continued beating him all the way to the bathroom.

Branka Kuljanin, Dragan’s wife, also testified at this hearing. She said her husband spent two years at the Musala detention camp and looked “horrible” when he was released.

“When he came to us in Serbia, he was very skinny. His eyes were sunken. It was impossible to recognize him. He had red and dark blue contusions. His left lower leg was black. He limped while walking. He had scars on his head and fresh contusions on his hands. There were many bruises on his back, stomach, and ribs. His index finger was broken. At the time he told me he would not have wished his enemy to experience what he had experienced in the detention camp,” Kuljanin said.

She said her husband told her that Gakic, whom she knew by sight, had beaten him.

Testifying as a defense witness at this hearing, Zoran Djordjic said he had known Ramo Zilic, as well as witness Dragan Kuljanin, from before the war.

“I spent 186 days in the detention camp in Celebici. We said we were civilians, but it’s known that it’s not true. Now everyone is receiving war veterans allowances. I think Kuljanin is receiving it as well,” Djordjic said.

Defense witness Osman Kurtovic said he heard about the beating of three Croat prisoners from Trusina, but believed that Zilic did not participate in it.

“When I opened the door, I saw the detainees. They were naked. One of them was on his knees. I don’t know what they were doing to them. We could hear screams, blows. It lasted for about an hour and a half…When they were taken out, they could hardly walk. They were in a completely bad condition. I think Ramo Zilic had nothing to do with it. I didn’t see Zilic anywhere during that night,” Kurtovic said.

Testifying as a defense witness, Junuz Salihovic said he had not heard anything negative about Ramo Zilic during the war.

The trial will continue on May 22.

DISCLAIMER: Justice report in first version put unintentionally that Zoran Djordjic was exchanged with Dragan Kuljanin. We apologize for mistake.