Salcin Defense Witness Saw No Signs of Violence on Injured Party

Salcin, a former member of the Bosnian Army’s Zulfikar Unit, has been charged with cutting off a part of prisoner Dragan Vukovic’s ear in front of the Mraziste Hotel on Mount Igman in March 1993. He is also charged with beating prisoners in the kitchen of the Mraziste Hotel on Mount Igman during the first half of 1993.

Defense witness and former Zulfikar Unit soldier Mujo Pirusic testified in Salcin’s defense. He said they were friends during the war.

“Salcin was nicknamed Struja. At the time I was young. He was good to me. He gave me advice…He didn’t beat anyone. We didn’t quarrel,” Pirusic said.

Pirusic confirmed that there were Serb prisoners of war on Mount Igman, but said he never saw them being mistreated.

“I know Dragan Vukovic, he’s also known as Vojvoda. I used to see him with the prisoners. I think he had been brought over from Tarcin. I didn’t notice any injuries on him. I didn’t see his head bandaged or see a piece of his ear missing,” Pirusic said.

According to Pirusic, another soldier also nicknamed Struja was on Mount Igman at the time. He said he wasn’t a member of the Zulfikar Unit.

Responding to questions by defense attorney Kerim Celik, Pirusic said he’d never seen Salcin with a knife. He also said he hadn’t heard that Salcin had cut anyone’s ear.

“Knowing Salcin, he wouldn’t have done that,” Pirusic said. He said he agreed to testify in the trial because he knew Salcin hadn’t attacked Vukovic.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 10.