Former Doboj Prison Detainees Testify at Ninkovic Retrial

Ninkovic, a former guard at the district prison in Doboj, has been charged with participating in the torture and abuse of detained non-Serb civilians from May 1992 to March 1993.

At today’s hearing, three witnesses were examined at the defense’s request. Hasan Krdzalic told the court he was transported from the police station in Doboj to a prison in May 1992. He said Ninkovic received him at the prison.

Krdzalic said the defendant “made a cut on Sakib Hurtic’s ear with his boot heel.”

Sejfudin Suljic said he and about ten other prisoners were brought to the Doboj prison and were beaten by two guards with batons when they entered the facility.

“I was hit with a baton once. When we entered the room, the men who were already there told us the Ninkovic brothers had received us at the entrance,” Suljic said.

Esef Hidic said he was detained in the Doboj prison from May 1992 to March 1993, when he was transferred to Banja Luka.

“At least twenty people were present in the room. About 35 of us were present in room number three,” Hidic said.

At the beginning of June 2015, Ninkovic was sentenced to two years in prison for committing crimes against civilians. In October 2015, the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska upheld the appeals filed by the prosecution and defense, repealed the verdict and ordered a retrial.

The trial will continue on January 28, 2016.