Gasal et al: Witness Fails to Appear

Sabahudin Gazic was not at his reported place of residence so the summons could not be delivered. The defence lawyer for Enes Handzic said he wanted to question Gazic.

“We even went to Prozor. We tried to contact him, but with no success. The witness was here and he was told the defence would invite him to testify,” said Fahrija Karkin.

Gazic testified for the prosecution in November 2008. He said he used to work as the commander of the guards in the Vojin Paleksic school building in which Croats were detained during the summer of 1993.

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina will now try to locate Gazic and hand deliver the summons via the State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA.

Handzic, Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic are charged with crimes committed against Bosnian Croats detained in various buildings in the Bugojno area in 1993 and 1994.

Gasal and Kukavica were alleged to have been responsible for the functioning of the Iskra detention camp. Handzic, the former assistant commander for security with the 307th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dautovic, a member of the Joint Command of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bugojno, are charged with participation in the capture of civilians in Bugojno and the preparation of plans for the capture.

The trial will continue on September 1.