One trial next week

During the main hearing on June 27, the Prosecution will present material evidence against indictee Nikola Kovacevic. This will be the final stage of the Prosecution’s presentation of evidence, and the defence will start presenting its evidence on June 28 and 29.

Since the main hearing started on April 20, the Prosecution has questioned 28 witnesses who spoke of the beginning of the war in Sanski Most in 1992 and of days of detention in the Betonirka and Manjaca camps. Some of the witnesses identified the indictee as the person who personally tortured them or who participated in the torture of other camp inmates.

The indictment alleges that that during the period from April to August 1992 Kovacevic, as a member of the Serb defence forces unit (SOS), took part in attacks on the Bosniak and Croat civilian populations on the wider territory of Bosanska krajina, especially Sanski Most.

As is stated in the indictment, Kovacevic – alone or with other members of the army and police – detained civilians in the Betonirka building, where they were tortured. It is also stated in the indictment that Kovacevic participated in taking of civilians who were then detained in the public security station, Betonirka building, Hasan Kikic elementary school, high school centre sports hall and Manjaca camp. During the transportation the detained civilians suffered heavy torture, beatings, and the fate of some of the inmates is still unknown.

Kovacevic is the first person charged by the Bosnian war crimes prosecutor in connection with crimes committed in Sanski Most.