Duka Defense Witness Says He Didn’t See Injuries on Bileca Prisoners

The state prosecution has charged Duka, Goran Vujovic and Zeljko Ilic with crimes in Bileca. The state prosecution has charged the defendants with abusing Bosniak and Croat civilians in Bileca in 1992.

According to the charges, Vujovic was the chief of the public safety station in Bileca, Duka was the commander of the station and Ilic was a policeman.

Sinisa Samardzic said that after his arrest in June 1992, he was detained in an old prison in Bileca for 20 days. He said other Bosniak prisoners were held in the same prison.

Samardzic said he and Nedjo Vujovic were arrested due to a report that accused them of breaking into Hako Djapo’s house.

Samardzic said he didn’t commit the break-in. He said he found out who the perpetrator was later on, but didn’t know who reported him and Vujovic to the police.

He said that prior being taken to the old prison, he was brought to the police station in Bileca. At the police station, Samardzic said, Miomir Milosevic slapped him in the face. He said he thought Milosevic was the deputy commander of the police station.

Samardzic said he didn’t notice injuries on prisoners Edin Bajramovic, known as Dida, Sabir Bajramovic and Meho Murguz. He also said he didn’t know when the Bosniak prisoners were brought to the prison, who brought them there and how long they were detained.

Witness Ismet Ovcina also testified in Duka’s defense at today’s hearing. Ovcina said Duka was his supervisor in a company he worked at for two years, and described him as a great and humane person. He said Duka saved his life when he kicked a rifle out of Blazo Starevic’s hand.

Ovcina said he was not subjected to any harsh treatment by the Bileca police in the village of Grabovica in the municipality of Bileca.

He said members of the Croatian Defense Council captured him when he was a member of the Bosnian Serb Army on September 13, 1992. He said he was detained in Lora for 13 months before going to Belgrade. He said he didn’t return to Bileca during the war.

Meho Gabela was the third witness to testify at today’s hearing. Gabela said he lived in the village of Milavici in the municipality of Bileca until the summer of 1992. He said didn’t have any problems with the police. Gabela said he went to Stolac in the summer of 1992, and said police activities and Miroslav Duka had no influence on that decision.

“Everyone fled to his own people. We could hardly wait to leave,” Gabela said, adding that he went to Stolac out of fear.

The trial will continue on January 25.