Prosecution Attempts to Dispute Bojadzic Witness Testimonies

Bojadzic, the former deputy commander of the Zulfikar Unit of the Bosnian Army, has been charged with the assault, rape and sexual abuse of Croat civilians and prisoners in Jablanica in 1993.

According to the indictment, Bojadzic and another unidentified soldier abducted two female Croat detainees held in detention at the Battle of Neretva Museum in Jablanica on the night of July 28, 1993. They allegedly raped the detainees.

Zukrija Adilovic, a former assistant commander with the Travnicki Battalion of the Seventh Muslim Brigade of the Bosnian Army, testified at today’s hearing. He said the Travnicki Battalion was deployed to Igman in the summer of 1993, due to combat with the Bosnian Serb Army in that area.

The state prosecution asked Adilovic if he attended a meeting held in Pazaric on the creation of exclusively Muslim units.

“I did not attend that meeting,” Adilovic said.

Prosecutor Sedin Idrizovic presented Adilovic with a document issued by the First Corps of the Bosnian Army concerning that meeting, indicating that he was also in attendance. Adilovic maintained that he didn’t attend the meeting and knew nothing about a plan to establish Muslim units.

Bojadzic had previously claimed he left Mount Igman on June 27, 1993, the day before the alleged rape. He claimed he went to Sarajevo and spent several days there. Bojadzic said during that time he discussed the idea of establishing exclusively Muslim units with the Supreme Command of the Bosnian Army.

At today’s hearing, Bojadzic said such units were formed some time after his visit to the Supreme Command.

Mira Brankovic, a former Mostar detainee, also testified at today’s hearing. Brankovic said she was detained in the Mostar area in July 1993. She said she declared herself a Muslim, since she came from a mixed marriage and had married a Muslim herself.

Testifying for the state prosecution earlier during the trial, Brankovic’s husband said Bojadzic had mistreated a Croat detainee. Brankovic had been invited to testify because Bojadzic had previously said she was a Croat. The defense also maintained that Brankovic had been detained for a very brief period of time.

The trial will continue on September 17.