Witnesses in Kladanj Trial Deny Mistreatment of Serbs

Mujcinovic is on trial with Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Zijad Hamzic, Ramiz Halilovic, Nedzad Hodzic, Osman Gogic and Kahro Vejzovic, all former members of the civil police, military police and Territorial Defense from Stupari.

According to the charges, the defendants unlawfully detained Serb civilians who lived in villages in the Stupari area during the summer of 1992. The indictment alleges that Mujcinovic was the commander of the Stupari police station.

In addition to unlawful detention, the defendants have also been charged with the assault and inhumane treatment of Serb civilians.

Nedzad Kadric, a former member of the Territorial Defense in Stupari, who became a reserve policeman later on, testified at this hearing. He said he often went to Stupari from the village of Krivajevici in late May 1992.

He said he saw a white minivan in the village of Rujici once, containing three unknown persons in uniform and several of his Serb neighbours.

Kadric said he stopped briefly, watched them enter the minivan, but didn’t wait for the minivan to leave.

Kadric said it looked like his Serb neighbours were being rounded up – he said he saw them again, detained on police premises, and was tasked with guarding them.

However, Kadric said Serb citizens in the area had freedom of movement.

Kadric also confirmed that Halilovic had difficulties walking due to a car accident.

Razem Mesanovic, a former reserve policeman, also testified at this hearing. He said he didn’t arrest his Serb neighbours in Prijanovic or any other Serbs. He also said he didn’t participate in interrogations with Safet Mujcinovic.

“We protected them so nobody would attack, mistreat or insult them,” Mesanovic said. He said he used to see his Serb neighbours sheltered in residential buildings.

According to Mesanovic, “soldiers and refugees came in and some incidents did occur.” He also said a man named Aljo Kadric attacked the buildings where Serbs lived.

“Aljo Kadric came drunk and began insulting the Serbs,” Mesanovic said. He said he intervened along with Nedzad Hodzic and another person in this instance.

Also testifying at this hearing, former educational worker Dzemal Mesanovic said he and three other colleagues entered data on approximately 1000 children in the Stupari elementary school from May to September 1992.

He said some of his Serb colleagues lived in a building near the school and they would come to work unaccompanied.

“All those people were gathered at that place for the sake of their security,” Mesanovic said. He said his Serb colleagues didn’t complain of mistreatment.

The trial will continue on July 3. A the next hearing, Busnov’s defense will begin its presentation of evidence with testimony by the defendant.