Bastah et al: Court records a not guilty plea

Predrag Bastah is charged with crimes against humanity committed in Vlasenica area. He told the preliminary hearing judge at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BiH, that he could not enter his plea for health reasons. The Court of BiH recorded that the indictee pleaded not guilty. At the hearing, which was held on April 30, Bastah also refused to enter his plea for health reasons.

“When I started reading the indictment I got sick. They took me to a doctor’s. I cannot enter my plea and I want to be examined by a psychiatrist,” said Bastah at this hearing.

The Prosecution of BiH charges Bastah, Veljko Basic and Goran Viskovic with having participated in “a systematic attack against the non-Serbian population” in Vlasenica municipality from April to late September 1992. The indictment alleges that they participated in the capture and detention of Bosniak civilians and in taking those civilians to “Susica” detention camp, where several thousands of persons were held in unhygienic conditions.

After checking Bastah’s personal data, Fahey Marie Elizabeth, preliminary hearing judge of the Court of BiH, said that he “answers the questions and, judging by his look, one can conclude that he is feeling fine.”

The trial of Bastah,Viskovic and Basic before the Courtof BiH is due to commence within the next 90 days.