Witness Describes Military Police Operations in Srebrenik

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. According to the indictment, Serb civilians were abused and tortured by the defendants on the premises of a local community building in Rapatnica as well as on a playground.

Jasmin Fazlic, a former member of the military police in Srebrenik, testified at today’s hearing. Fazlic said his unit used to guard checkpoints, roads, people and buildings, including the detention facility in Rapatnica.

Fazlic said when he became a recordkeeper, he visited the Rapatnica detention facility once or twice to bring his colleagues cigarettes. He said he never entered the hall where he assumed prisoners were held. He said the prisoners were people who had refused to go to the frontline or had caused other problems.

Fazlic said the military police was initially located in a school building in Srebrenik and then in a cultural center. He said Ekrem Ibracevic worked next to their offices.

“I used to see him when he came to work in the morning. I didn’t receive any orders from him. He had a military policeman, named Mustafa Covic, with whom he cooperated,” Fazlic said.

He said when he first joined the military police he was in the traffic section. He said defendant Faruk Smajlovic was the commander of that section.

He said he knew defendant Sejdalija Covic as a military police officer who used to guard checkpoints.

The trial will continue on September 22.