Markovic: Trial for Doboj Crimes Begins

The State Prosecution has charged Miodrag Markovic, former member of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, with having taken “a girl, who was a minor at the time”, from her house in Dragalovci village, Doboj municipality, in July 1992, while cursing “insurrectionists’ mothers” to other residents and firing a bullet in the air.

The indictment alleges that Markovic took the girl to a nearby meadow, strongly hit her with his revolver handle, raped her and threatened her by saying she must not tell anyone about what had happened or else he would rape her again and kill her family members.

“The actions charged against the indictee represent a violation of the Geneva Convention and a violation of the rights of civilians. The indictee committed the crime as a member of the VRS. By doing so, he misused his position instead of trying to protect civilians. It has taken 17 years for the injured party to gain courage and speak about the crime for the first time. The Prosecution will certainly prove that the indictee is guilty and therefore has to be punished for the crimes he committed,” Prosecutor Bozidarka Dodik said in her introductory arguments.

Svetlana Lazic, Defence attorney for the indictee, said she was sure that Markovic had not committed the crime for which he was charged, adding that the Defence would prove he had not committed the crime over the course of the trial.

“My client is charged with a grave crime against civilians. With due respect to the victim, I consider that an innocent man must not be pronounced guilty. The Defence has got the task to prove this,” the Defence attorney said.

Miodrag Markovic is defending himself while at liberty. The first Prosecution witnesses are due to appear in court on September 14.