Former Guard Describes Abuse at Rapatnica Detention Facility

Ibracevic, Smajlovic and Covic have been charged with war crimes committed against Serb civilians in Rapatnica.

According to the indictment, at the time Ibracevic was the chief of military security of the municipal headquarters of the Territorial Defense in Srebrenik. Faruk Smajlovic and Mustafa Covic were members of the military police.

Witness Ismet Imsirovic told the trial chamber that he was sent to the detention facility in Rapatnica to serve as a guard in July 1992. He said Serb prisoners and members of the Bosnian Army were brought there for detention

According to Imsirovic, the detention unit was under the command of the Territorial Defense Headquarters in Srebrenik. Ekrem Ibracevic, chief of security with the Territorial Defense Headquarters, had received an order to establish the facility.

Imsirovic said Ekrem Ibracevic and Mustafa Covic (known as Muce), who were police inspectors and members of military security, conducted interrogations in Rapatnica.

“Mustafa once asked me to bring him someone to interrogate at around midnight or half past midnight. I said it was late, but he banged his hand on the table…He said he was God in that place. On the following day he came with Ibracevic, who informed me that Muce [Covic] had discovered many rifles and he had to be allowed to interrogate people,” Imsirovic said.

Imsirovic said Faruk Smajlovic was the commander of his squad, and said he occasionally visited the Rapatnica facility. He said he also saw other military police officers at the facility, such as Covic, who he saw two or three times – “when patrols brought in new prisoners.”

Imsirovic said he saw Covic hit Marko Maksimovic in his presence at least twice. He said he noticed visible injuries on a prisoner named Lazar Stanisic and found out later on that he had been beaten by the police.

Imsirovic said he remembered the day when the Djukic brothers were brought to the detention facility. He said everyone interrogated them and beat them.

“They used force in order to get information, which they thought they had,” Imsirovic said.

Imsirovic said he noticed injuries on Stanisic and the Djukic brothers one morning. He said he found out that they had been beaten the night before.

“I entered the room and saw Lazar naked down to his waist. He had open wounds on his chest and shoulders. They were up to 15 centimeters long. He said he was interrogated by Muca [Covic]…I visited the Djukics. They also had injuries…Lazar told me they were caused by a soldetron,” Imsirovic said.

Imsirovic said Mustafa Covic, Faruk Smajlovic, Huso Hodzic, Jasmin Mujkanovic and Samir Mujkanovic had come to Rapatnica the night before.

“I opened up the hall for them…I took Lazar out first,” Imsirovic said.

Imsirovic said Ibracevic was on the first floor and left before the interrogation and beating was completed.

Imsirovic confirmed having visited witnesses who testified in the Zurahid Mujcinovic case. Mujcinovic was sentenced to eight years in prison for crimes committed at the Rapatnica detention facility.

“I needed to meet Drago Djukic…He said Zurahid tortured him with a soldetron, but Zurahid never even entered Rapatnica,” Imsirovic said.

Imsirovic’s cross-examination will be continued on June 9.