Trial for Crimes in the Derventa and Bosanski Brod Area Begins

According to the charges, from late April to July 1992 Nezirovic participated in torture and inhumane treatment of detained Serb civilians in Rabic and Silos Polje detention camps in the municipality of Derventa and a detention camp in Tulek, Bosanski Brod municipality.

State prosecutor Milanko Kajganic said Nezirovic has been charged with abusing and beating detainees as a guard on several occasions and torturing them in an extremely humiliating manner.

“The prosecution alleges that Nezirovic beat detainees with batons, tools and various objects, tortured them by forcing them to put the three fingers they use for prayers on the table and then broke their fingers and fist bones using various tools. He also once severely abused a detained doctor, who offered medical assistance to abused victims,” Kajganic said.

One of the counts alleges that Nezirovic deprived detainees of food and, even when he brought food, he would spill it in the hangar channel used for urination and defecation, mocking the detainees.

“The defendant sometimes committed the abuse on his own and sometimes he did it together with other members of the Croatian Defense Council (HVO). His victims were Serb detainees from the Derventa surroundings, who were held in detention camps. They suffer permanent consequences on their physical and mental health due to the injuries they got,” prosecutor Kajganic concluded.

According to the prosecution’s charges, Nezirovic committed those crimes as a member of military police of the 103rd Derventska Brigade of HVO.

Prosecutor Kajganic said he planned to prove the allegations by examining 33 witnesses and one expert witness, as well as reading a statement given by a deceased witness.

Kerim Celik, defense attorney of defendant Nezirovic, said he would not present his introductory statement, adding he would speak about his evidence after the prosecution had done the same.

Nezirovic had lived in the United States of America as of 1997. Five years ago an indictment was filed against him for giving false data when applying for the US citizenship. Bosnia and Herzegovina filed a request for his extradition in July 2012. The process lasted longer than usual because Nezirovic appealed the extradition decisions. He was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2015.

The date for the next hearing will be set at a later stage.