Returnees from Syria ‘Cannot Testify’ at Bosnian Terrorism Trial

The expert witness, psychiatrist Azra Alajbegovic, analysed whether the four witnesses, who were flown back to Bosnia from Syria in December last year and whose names cannot be revealed because of a court ruling, are able to appear as witnesses.

Alajbegovic said that three of the witnesses are unable to testify in court for medical reasons, but one of them could be helped back to a condition in which she might be able to testify with support, but that this would take between three and six months.

Asked by presiding judge Dzemila Begovic whether this preparation would guarantee success, the expert witness said it would not, and might even be counterproductive.

When asked by the defence whether it could be said that the witnesses were in a stable mental state when they gave their statements to investigators in the case, Alajbegovic said that she was not involved in that.

The defence stated no objection to the expert witness’s findings.

Keserovic is charged with going to Syria in January 2013 and participating, as a member of the so-called Islamic State, in terrorist activities. He has also been accused of publicly inciting terrorist activities.

Following the presentation of the expert witness’s findings, prosecutor Cazim Hasanspahic proposed that the four witnesses’ statements be read in the courtroom.

With the consent of the defense, the statements were presented on an overhead projector and included prosecution evidence without being read.

A protected witness codenamed N-2 was due to testify at the hearing but did not appear, and the State Investigation and Protection Agency did not explain to the state court and prosecution why it had not brought the witness to court.

The trial is due to continue on January 21.