Radic et al: Doubts over Veracity of Witness Statements

Sunjic’s Defence attorney, Mithat Koco, said the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina had not proved one single crime for which the indictee is charged, adding that not a single piece of evidence “indicates that he was deputy commander of Vojno prison, as alleged by the Prosecution”.

“It is doubtful that he was deputy commander, because one can say that both pieces of evidence are fake. The signatures on them do not look like Sunjic’s signature at all. A graphologist said that the documents had not importance whatsoever. He could not have been a deputy commander or had a military rank,” Koco said.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Sunjic, Marko Radic, Damir Brekalo and Mirko Vracevic, former members of the First Bijelo Polje Battalion with the Second Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, with having participated in the physical, mental and sexual abuse of detainees in Vojno, near Mostar in 1993 and 1994.

In February 2009, a first instance verdict was pronounced, sentencing them for crimes against humanity. Radic was sentenced to 25, Sunjic to 21 and Brekalo to 20 years’ imprisonment, while Vracevic was sentenced to 14 years. After the appeals were filed, the Appellate Chamber revoked the verdict and ordered a retrial, which began in July 2010.

The indictment alleges that Sunjic was a member of the “Ivan Stanic Cico” Reconnaissance Squad and Deputy Commander of Vojno prison.

“My client was not a member of the Reconnaissance Squad. He could not have participated in the establishment of Vojno prison. Prior to the breakout of the conflict between HVO and Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sunjic was a military policeman in Sjeverni logor. He was deployed to Rastani on July 6, 1993,” Koco said.

Presenting his closing statement, Sunjic said that the statements from prosecution witnesses  “are not true”. He said he hoped the Appellate Chamber would “doubt that the witnesses told the truth”.

Prosecution witnesses said the indictee participated in the murder of Arif Omanovic. Witness C said he ordered her to perform a task at night, when she was raped. However, Sunjic denied the allegations, claiming he was not in Vojno at the time.

“I do not deny that Omanovic died in the prison, but I deny having participated in his murder. (…) I was not performing military service at the time when witness C was sent somewhere to perform work at night, as she said,” the indictee explained, adding he did not come to Vojno area after September 10, 1993. He said he voluntarily left the military police service on September 14.

Sunjic is due to continue presenting his closing statement on February 21 this year.

                                                                                                                                 A.J.