Witness Describes Abuse and Detainment at Condric Trial

Condric, a former member of the Croatian Defense Council’s military police, has been charged with the abuse of a detainee on the premises of an old police building and the assault of another detainee in a prison located in the storage area of the Beograd department store. In the latter incident, Condric acted in collaboration with another member of the Croatian Defense Council.

Condric is also charged with enabling two Croatian Defense Council members to rape a woman in the boiler room of the Polet football stadium in Bosanski Brod in late July or early August 1992.

At today’s hearing, prosecutor Milanko Kajganic presented four reports based on his examination of Marko Mitric, who is unable to testify in court due to his poor health.

Kajganic presented a report written in December of last year which indicates that Mitric was arrested by members of the Croatian Defense Council on June 2, 1992. According to the report, Mitric was then detained at the Marsonija Hotel in Slavonski Brod.

“Later on I was transferred to an old police building, where they interrogated me about weapons. They hit me with their fists and legs…I remember Mato Condric, who hit me with his fists and legs. He hit me on the back with a shovel,” Mitric said.

The statement goes on to report that Mitric was then transferred to the Polet football club stadium, where he used to see Condric and other policemen.

“Women were also detained at the Polet stadium. I remember they took women out in order to rape them,” Mitric said, adding that he too was a victim of sexual abuse.

Kajganic also read a statement Mitric made in November 1994 at the Basic Court in Derventa. In Mitric’s 1994 statement, he didn’t mention that Condric hit him.

Condric then addressed the trial chamber. He said he “didn’t even say any abusive words” to Mitric, “let alone beat him.”

Kajganic also presented a series of material evidence, including a master record on the defendant, minutes from the identification process, Mitric’s medical records, as well as a criminal record abstract for the defendant.

The next hearing will be held on May 20, when the first two defense witnesses will be examined.