Alic: Witness Gives Different Statements

Prosecution witness Sulejman Sekic has spoken of indictee Sefik Alic’s role in the Bosnian Army’s “Hamze” battalion.

The Prosecution of BiH considers Alic responsible, in his capacity as assistant commander for security of the “Hamze” battalion with the 505th Buzim Brigade, Fifth Corps of BiH Army, for having failed to investigate the murder of four prisoners of war – members of the Republic of Serbian Krajina Army – during the 1995 “Oluja” operation.

The indictment alleges that the prisoners were murdered by Arabian citizen Tewfik Al Harbi, who is currently on the run.

Witness Sekic was appointed as Hamze’s assistant commander for logistics on August 4, 1995.

“I think that Alic was assistant commander for security,” said Sekic, adding that his conclusion was based on the statement made by Battalion Commander Asim Bajraktarevic, who told him that Alic had been “nominated” to that post.

Prosecutor Peter Kidd presented a statement given by the witness to the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) in August 2006, in which the witness claimed that Alic was assistant commander for security. In response, Sekic alleged that the SIPA investigator had “pressured” him to say that.

“As I heard that Alic was nominated, I believed that the nomination was accepted,” he said. “I was not sure about it at that time. And I am not sure now.”

In reply to a question from Trial Chamber Chairwoman Minka Kreho, the witness said that “the SIPA investigator irritated me, in particular concerning my role and my whereabouts”.

“He generated a mental block in my head, so I was not able to think clearly,” said Sekic, denying that he discussed the events in question with anybody after giving his statement to the SIPA investigators.

Sekic said he “used to see” Tewfik Al Harbi in 1995, and added that he once saw him at Meho Veladzic’s. Veladzic, the former “Hamze” squad cameraman, is the author of a video recording being used as key evidence by both the prosecution and defence at the Alic trial.

He also claims to have seen Al Harbi participating in the “Sana 95” military operation, but he cannot remember which unit he belonged to at the time. He also said that Al Harbi was not a member of the “Hamze” Battalion, “because he would only come there from time to time”.

In the course of cross-examination, the witness said that Alic was the bearer of the truce of war during the muster of the battalion conducted on the eve of the “Oluja” military operation. Asked by the Prosecutor why Alic was the truce bearer, the witness replied that he did not know.

Sekic also said that he heard about the prisoners taken in the course of the “Oluja” operation only after the war, when he was watching the local TV show.

The trial is due to continue on November 13.