Civilian Killed During Sanski Most Prisoner Beatings

Prosecution witness Enes Karabeg told the state court in Sarajevo on Friday that prisoners at the Krings factory in Sanski Most were subjected to everyday beatings with cables, batons, whips and fists.

He recalled that prisoner Munib Masic was brought to the factory in the second half of July 1992.

“We heard he was beaten,” Karabeg testified.

“They threw him into the room. A man then kicked me and said: ‘You will end up like him if you approach him,’” he said, adding that the main who said it was one of the reserve policemen who carried Masic in.

He said there was a rattling sound in Masic’s throat and he lost conscience, then died an hour later.

According to the witness, the detainees were interrogated by police inspectors from Sanski Most.

“They called the gentleman who is on trial here [Vrucinic] the chief,” Karabeg said.

Vrucinic, the former chief of the public security station and a member of the crisis committee in Sanski Most, is charged with having participated in a joint criminal enterprise which was responsible for murders, forcible resettlement, unlawful detention and forcible disappearances from April to December 1992.

Also on Friday, testifying at the trial of former fighter Edhem Zilic for crimes in the Konjic area, a prosecution witness testified about beatings at the Musala detention centre in Konjic.

Witness Goran Niksic, a former member of the Croatian Defence Council, said he was captured in April 1993 and held at the former Musala elementary school which was being used as a detention centre.

“Edhem Zilic introduced himself as the manager. That was the first time I saw him. I remember him well… I remember only negative things about him,” Niksic said.

He said Zilic did not hit him during his detention at Musala, but he saw guards abuse the detainees.

He recalled being called to Zilic’s office, where guard Ibro Macic was present as well.

“When I entered the office, Zilic asked me how come that I had a gun given that I was so young. I did not even have time to say anything before Macic ran towards me and kicked me in the chest,” Niksic said.

“It was a strong and painful blow. I fell down. I nearly fainted. I saw Zilic sitting in his chair laughing,” he added.

According to the charges, Zilic carried out, ordered, enabled and failed to prevent the inhumane treatment of Croat and Serb detainees at Musala.