Witness Describes Prisoner Abuse by Police Forces in Bileca

Miroslav Duka, the former Bileca police commander, Goran Vujovic, the former chief of the Bileca public safety station, and Zeljko Ilic, a former police officer, have been charged with war crimes in Bileca. Nedjeljko Kuljic, since deceased, was also charged under the same indictment.

Vujovic and Duka have been charged with enabling and organizing the detention of Bosniak and Croat civilians in Bileca, where detainees were killed, tortured and abused. Ilic has been charged with participating in their abuse.

A protected witness known as A-6 testified at today’s hearing. A-6 said he was arrested on June 10, 1992 and detained in military barracks in Bileca. He was then transferred to an old prison in Bileca.

He said no one abused him in the prison, but other detainees were taken out and beaten.

“We heard screams. When they came back, they would tell us what had happened…Sajto said he was beaten by Duka and Nedjeljko Kuljic,” A-6 said.

He said he knew Miroslav Duka as the town’s police commander.

“Whatever he did, he did it while he was drunk…He used to come [to the prison] a lot. Someone was usually mistreated when he came,” A-6 said.

A-6 said no prisoners were beaten without orders from Duka.

A-6 described an incident in which tear gas was thrown into the prison.

“First they threw it into the student dormitory. We heard shooting…Slavo Vujovic said, ‘Don’t be afraid. That’s Duka,’” A-6 said.

He said no one saw Duka throw tear gas into the building.

A-6 confirmed that Zeljko Ilic brought in some men off the street to beat a detainee named Sadan Mujacic.

“Sadan said, ‘Don’t do it, Zeljko, my brother,’ but he responded, ‘I’m not your brother,’” A-6 said. He said Ilic didn’t beat Mujacic himself.

The trial will continue on July 14.