Djerahovic Testifies in Own Defense, Says He Didn’t Harm Injured Parties

Jasmin Saric and Sedjad Djerahovic, former members of the Bosnian Army, have been charged with participating in the physical abuse of Andjelko Bozic and his sons Nedeljko and Veseljko in the village of Bukovica in the municipality of Zenica on June 16, 1992. Andjelko Bozic died as a result of his injuries. His sons were severely injured.

Testifying in his own defense, defendant Sedjad Djerahovic told the cantonal court of Zenica that he first heard about the abuse of Andjelko Bozic and his son during his examination at the trial. He said he didn’t know the injured parties at all.

Djerahovic said he was a member of the Commando and Reconnaissance Squad. He said his squad began searching houses on June 16, 1992, to find illegal weapons.

After having searched two villages, they went to Bukovica. He said the Bozic home was the last one in the village.

“The commander’s brother and another soldier entered the house. They stayed inside for a minute. Andjelko and his older son Nedeljko came out with them. Their mother was already in front of the house and the younger son Veseljko was on the other side of the house. He was still a child,” Djerahovic said.

According to Djerahovic, Nedeljko Bozic felt relieved when he saw him.

“I told him, ‘Don’t worry, my schoolmate. If you have weapons, you hand them over and that’s it.’ They said they didn’t have any. The younger brother said he would have sold the weapons with a friend and bought alcohol, so we all laughed,” Djerahovic said.

He said a group of armed people then appeared at the house. He said they were members of a unit based in the school building in Tetovo.

“After that we withdrew. The Bozics stayed in front of the house. A few days later my neighbours told me what had happened to them. I also heard it on the radio,” Djerahovic said.

He said he captured soldiers during the war, but never harmed anyone, “let alone my schoolmate and colleague Nedeljko.”

“I assume they laid the blame on me and commander Saric, because they heard about him and I was the only one they knew,” Djerahovic said.

Saric then addressed the court. He confirmed he was the commander of the Reconnaissance and Commando Company in June 1992.

“Before dawn on June 16, our logistics officer and us three squad commanders went to Travnik and then to Mount Sesicka to reconnoiter the terrain. We spent the whole day in the area. At around 9pm I informed our operational duty officer that the task had been completed,” Saric said.

The trial will continue on October 6.