Up to 50 People Held in Rapatnica Between July-September 1992, Witness Says
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Ibracevic, Smajlovic and Covic have been charged with the torture and abuse of Serb civilians in Rapatnica in 1992. Ibracevic was formerly the chief of military security with the Territorial Defense Headquarters in Srebrenik, while Smajlovic and Covic were members of the military police.
Safer Ahmetovic, a former military police commander from Srebrenik, testified at today’s hearing. Ahmetovic said he became a military police commander in August 1992, and reported to his superiors on the period spanning July-September 1992.
“I made a periodic report for the commander. Between 40 and 50 prisoners of war and persons of interest to us in terms of security were held in the military detention unit at some stage,” Ahmetovic said.
Ahmetovic said the military police that guarded Rapatnica were under the jurisdiction of the Territorial Defense Headquarters, and were managed by a security body.
Ahmetovic said defendant Ekrem Ibracevic was the assistant commander for security with the Territorial Defense Headquarters.
“Two or three days after having taken over my job, I visited the detention unit with Ekrem. I noticed that a registry of detainees was kept. I also saw receipts for confiscated belongings. People were brought to the unit for disturbing public peace and order. Also, prisoners of war and people of interest to our intelligence service were brought there as well,” Ahmetovic said.
Ahmetovic said he recalled having seen two detainees in the basement of the detention unit.
“A military police officer took the two persons out. They had patches on their faces. They were in a small room without windows. They were exhausted, pale, and tired. Ekrem explained that they were prisoners of war who would be going to Tuzla in two or three days,” Ahmetovic said.
Ahmetovic confirmed that Smajlovic and Covic were members of the military police.
Ahmetovic said the traffic section of the military police, which was commanded by defendant Faruk Smajlovic, had no competencies with regards to the detention unit.
Ahmetovic said Huso Hodzic, accused of having beaten Rapatnica detainees, was kicked out of the military police force for having violated disciplinary rules. He said Hodzic used to wear fingerless gloves.
The trial will continue on September 8.
