Syria Defendant ‘Photographed in Uniform with Rifle’

Milarem Berbic. Photo: Court of BiH

The witness, a State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA officer, said he knew the defendant from previous cases related to terrorism, and that his face was familiar to him.

Prosecutor Elvira Stanojlovic presented the witness with a formal note submitted by SIPA to the Bosnian state prosecution, including photographs of the defendant with his name written on top.

“I think we wrote that he was wearing a uniform and holding a rifle,” the witness said, explaining parts of the note.

A video was also mentioned in the note, which the witness said SIPA had downloaded it from al-Hayat Media Centre website, which was shut down after the investigation.

The witness also recognised the defendant on the video. He said the page was an Islamic State service, adding that it contained incitements to join paramilitary units and take part in terrorist activities.

The witness alleged that Berbic was a member of a paramilitary unit of unknown name, commanded by a man called Goran Pavlovic, of which Bosnian citizens were members.

The examination of the witness was interrupted when the defendant asked to go to the toilet, after which he said he could no longer follow the trial due to health problems.

At the beginning of the hearing, he complained about health problems, for which he said he had not received therapy after an examination by an urologist.

“I cannot follow the trial,” the defendant said.

The presiding judge said she would take into account his request to delay the proceedings.

The indictment alleges that on August 29, 2014, Berbic left Bosnia with the intention of joining foreign paramilitary groups fighting against legitimate military forces in Syria.

He joined Goran Pavlovic’s unit, which fought for Islamic State, it claims. He was later captured by Kurdish forces.

The trial will continue on January 14.