Djelilovic et al: Nezir Kazic Pleads not Guilty

“I plead not guilty to all the charges,” Kazic told the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointing out that he “cannot see” himself as part of the joint indictment against the seven other indictees, who are charged with crimes in Hadzici municipality.

Kazic is charged, along with Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember, with crimes against Serbs and Croats, who were held in the Silos detention camp in Tarcin, detention facilities in the “9. maj” school building in Pazaric and detention camp in Krupa military barracks warehouses.

The State Prosecution alleges that many civilians and prisoners of war were unlawfully held in those buildings, where they were subjected to inhumane treatment, torture and the intentional causing of severe bodily or mental suffering, while also being forced to perform hard labour and deprived of the right to a fair trial. It further alleges that some people even died.

According to the charges, Mustafa Djelilovic was President of the Municipal Assembly of Hadzici and President of the Crisis Committee and, later on, President of the wartime Presidency of Hadzici municipality, Fadil Covic was Chief of the Public Safety Station in Hadzici and member of the Crisis Committee and Mirsad Sabic was Commander of the Police Station in Pazaric.

It is alleged that indictee Nezir Kazic was Commander of the 9th Mountain Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, while Becir Hujic and Halid Covic were Manager and Deputy Manager of the Silos detention camp.

The indictment alleges that Serif Mesanovic was one of the Deputy Managers of Silos and Manager of a detention camp in the warehouse of Krupa military barracks, while Nermin Kalember was a guard in Silos.

All indictees, except Kazic, pleaded not guilty at the last hearing held on February 21. At that hearing Kazic said that he did not understand the indictment and that he wanted to consult with his defence attorney. After that Mira Smajlovic, preliminary hearing judge with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled a new hearing at which the fourth indictee entered his plea.

The indictees have been held in custody since November 24, 2011.

The trial of the indictees is due to begin within the next 30 or 60 days.