Hasib Cehic Trial Completed

Prosecutor Jasmin Mesic said the examination of a number of witnesses proved that Cehic mistreated captured members of the Bosnian Army. He asked the cantonal court of Bihac to find Cehic guilty and sentence him in accordance with the law.

In his closing statement, defense attorney Nedzad Sarajlija said “after so much time [has passed] it’s hard to determine where Cehic was at that time.”

“Those were big events. It isn’t easy to forget them. My client should be able to remember that. We don’t deny the fact that this happened to those people, but my client says he didn’t do it,” Sarajlija said.

In his closing statement, Cehic repeated that he wasn’t guilty.

Cehic has been charged with physically mistreating two captured members of the Bosnian Army in Pecigrad in the municipality of Cazin on July 16, 1994. He has also been charged with the inhumane treatment and physical abuse of five captured members of the Fifth Corps of the Bosnian Army in Zagrad in the municipality of Velika Kladusa on June 21, 1995.

Neuropsychiatrist and court expert Nada Milovanovic was examined prior to the presentation of closing statements. Milovanovic said she determined that the defendant was aware of the importance of his actions and was capable of controlling his actions.

The pronouncement of the verdict has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.