Local Justice – Brcko: Pouring Acid over Wounds

The witness said that he was captured on May 19, 1992 and taken to Brcko police station, before being transferred, along with 15 other civilians, to the Luka detention camp in Brcko.

“While I was in Luka, I saw Republika Srpska Army members and ‘Arkan’s men’. They took us into one of the port hangars, where more than 100 men, mostly Muslims and Croats, had already been detained. They began examining and beating me and another prisoner on May 20. Konstantin Simeunovic and a Dragan and Ilija were the ones who beat us the first time. They hit us with all kinds of objects. We were beaten three or four times a day and even at night,” Didic said.

As he said, on May 25, 1992 the indictee wanted to see his “green blood”, so he was beaten up with a fire hose, which made numerous injuries on his body. He was then sent back to the room, where other prisoners were held.

“Monika, who was accompanied by some soldiers, came the following morning. Somebody pulled my blanket off me. She then began pouring some liquid over me, which burnt my wounds. I was in huge pain. I could not see clearly, because my eyes were half-closed due to the beating, but, judging by the smell, I would say that it was muriatic acid,” Didic said.

He said that the indictee did not beat him, but she encouraged Goran Jelisic and other men to do it. The Hague Tribunal sentenced Jelisic to 40 years in prison for crimes committed in Brcko.

The indictment charges Monika Karan-Ilic in eight counts with having torture, treated in an inhumane manner and mentally abused civilians in Luka concentration camp and the Public Safety Station in Brcko on a daily basis from the beginning of May to July 10, 1992.

Testifying at this hearing, Suad Ramovic said that Amir Didic was beaten more than anybody else.

“I used to see Monika in Luka from the first day. She was dressed in civil suit, but she had a revolver. She would often enter the hangar, where the detainees were held. She was accompanied by Goran Jelisic. However, I did not see that she mistreated anybody,” the witness said.

Third Prosecution witness Hasan Kamberovic, who was held in Luka detention camp from May 12 to June 21, 1992, said that Didic was beaten up every day.

“I remember that Monika once came to the hangar, pulled a blanket off Dedic and said: ‘Ouch! This Muslim stinks’. She was holding a revolver in her hand and wanted to kill him,” said Kamberovic.

The trial is due to continue on September 10.