Witnesses Describe Prisoner Abuse at Bijeljina Detention Camp

The district prosecution of Bijeljina has charged Pajic, Dmitrovic, Krstic, Misic with war crimes in the Sabirni Centar detention camp. The indictment alleges that the four detainees took detainees out of a hangar at the Sabirni Centar detention camp and then assaulted and insulted them.

The defendants performed the functions of manager, deputy manager, and guard commander at the Sabirni Centar detention camp in Batkovic from 1992 to 1994.

District prosecution witness and former Sabirni Centar detention camp prisoner Ahmet Ahmetasevic testified at today’s hearing. Ahmetasevic said two detainees tried to run away from the detention camp, but the guards caught them. He said the two detainees were then isolated and beaten. Ahmetasevic said he didn’t see who beat the detainees and how they were beaten.

Ahmetasevic said the two detainees had visible injuries on their bodies when they were brought back.

“Once they took them to the center of the prison complex and forced them to slap each other, but I couldn’t see who forced them to do it,” Ahmetasevic said. He said he wasn’t mistreated during his three months of detention.

Asim Sehanovic, a former Sabirni Centar detention camp prisoner, also testified at today’s hearing. Sehanovic said he was 18 years old when he was brought to the detention camp. He said he wasn’t mistreated and didn’t witness the mistreatment and torture of others.

“Four or five other detainees and I were isolated from the others and spared. We were even spared from performing labour. I don’t know if they respected the Geneva Conventions or if they spared us so they could show us when the Red Cross visited the facility. Everyone was kind to us and treated us correctly,” Sehanovic said.

Sehanovic said the worst humiliation he experienced was when he was forced to shave his head.

None of the witnesses recognized the defendants or associated them with the events they described.

The trial will continue on November 19.