State Prosecution Describes Command Responsibility of Sarajevo War Prisons

In response to evidence presented by the defense, prosecutor Dzevad Muratbegovic presented a written request and informative note prepared by the Defense Ministry in Sarajevo in 1992. These documents describe the internal organization of the military detention unit and prison located in the Viktor Bubanj military barracks, as well as on the fifth floor of the district prison of Sarajevo.

“We deny the allegations made by witness Sefer Halilogic, who said the Ministry of Defense was responsible for the military prison,” Muratbegovic said

The last piece of evidence presented by the prosecution was an order issued by the Main Headquarters of the armed forces, which described the appointment of the manager and assistant manager of the military prison.

Muratbegovic said that on the basis of the document, one could see that the Defense Ministry wasn’t responsible for the military prison. The Main Headquarters of the Military Command was in charge of the prison, as this body appointed the prison’s manager and assistant manager.

Vintila’s defense attorney, Vlado Adamovic, said it wasn’t true that the evidence presented by the prosecution discredited Halilovic’s claims.

“These documents actually confirm what the witness said. The institutions of the military detention unit, the military prison and, and as a colleague prosecutor said in the indictment, detention camp, are being mixed up,” Adamovic said.

During testimony he had given on March 3, Halilovic had said that the Defense Ministry was responsible for the military detention unit.

Vintila and Ramiz Avdovic are on trial for war crimes against Serb civilians in the Viktor Bubanj military barracks and on the fifth floor of the district prison in Sarajevo. The Bosnian state prosecution alleges that civilians were subjected to suffering and torture, and were also used for performing forced labour.

According to the charges, Avdovic was the commander of guards on the fifth floor of the district prison in Sarajevo and the former Viktor Bubanj military barracks, while Vintila was a cook and guard in the former barracks.

Vintila’s defense proposed that documents on the competencies of military detention units and prisoners be included in the case file. The proposed documents contain lists made by the commission for prisoner exchanges, among others.

The prosecutor will express his opinion regarding the proposed evidence at the next hearing.

The trial will continue on May 26.