Witness Describes Begovic as “Cruelest” Batkovic Guard

Begovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the assault of Bosniak civilians and prisoners of war in the Batkovic detention camp in the summer of 1992, as well as other crimes. State prosecution witness Sabrija Mehmedovic told the trial chamber he was taken to a police station in Bijeljina on July 23, 1992. He said police officers looked at his identification and then took him to the Batkovic detention camp.According to Mehmedovic, he was lined up with other men in front of the hangar. He said they had their jewelry and wallets taken away from them.“Gligor was one of the guards at Batkovic, one of the cruelest ones. He used to beat us every single day. He would take us out whenever he had a chance…Others beat us too, but he was a specific person,” Mehmedovic said.Mehmedovic said once he was taken out in front of the hangar with 14 other prisoners. Begovic ordered them all to squat.“Gligor took a wooden baton and beat us…he cut my ear. I was bleeding,” Mehmedovic said.Mehmedovic said a prisoner named Ferid Zecevic died a few days after having been brought to Batkovic, as a result of the beatings he endured.“I can’t say who beat him up,” Mehmedovic said. He said the prisoners left Zecevic’s body at the entrance to the hangar, but didn’t know what happened afterwards. In response to questions from the defense, Mehmedovic said he couldn’t see who was beating the prisoners, but could hear their screams.The trial will continue on August 26.