Local Justice – Milanovic: Verdict Due February 15
This post is also available in: Bosnian
Presenting its closing statement, the Federal Prosecution called on the Court to pronounce the indictee guilty, because it considers that his guilt for inhumane treatment of detained Bosniaks has been proved, while the Defence proposed to the Court to pronounce a verdict of release, claiming that not only did Milanovic not commit the crimes charged upon him, but he helped numerous Bosniak neighbours of his.
Witness Taib Kodzaga unambiguously and consequently said that he was abused and that the indictee beat him up. This witness said that detention camp Manager Branko Vlaco prohibited unauthorised personnel from entering the detention camp, but the indictee did not respect that, Prosecutor Nermina Mutevelic said.
She said that witnesses told the Court that members of military and paramilitary formations used to enter the Bunker detention camp, particularly mentioning detainees Ahmet Hido and Hasan Abaz, who were forced, among other things, to jump naked into untrimmed shrubs.
Mutevelic said that witness Ahmet Hido said that Milanovic enabled other persons to enter the premises and mistreat him, adding that Branko Vlaco eventually stopped the mistreatment.
I do not see any reasons for not believing Taib Kodzaga. He was honest. He did not want to conceal the positive acts by Manager Vlaco…Witness Hido did not hide Branko Vlacos actions either, so one cannot say that the witnesses have some kind of animosity towards the indictee, Mutevelic said.
Defence attorney Refik Serdarevic said that Kodzagas allegations that Milanovic slapped him with his hands and legs were not confirmed by any other witnesses.
He said that, after having left Bunker in September 1992, Kodzaga suffered some horrible things, adding that, in a certain way one could justify the fact that he felt animosity towards the people who belonged to the same ethnic group as the person who did that to him.
My client did many good things. We heard that he protected Mirvet Cebo when a person known as Mico, the Chetnik, singled him out. Milanovic told him that he could not take him away. The man, who exposed his life to danger, cannot be associated with the actions described in this indictment… He should be awarded for his actions, Serdarevic said.
Addressing the Chamber, indictee Milanovic said that he had never even said a bad word to Taib Kodzaga, let alone beat him up.
I used to bring him meat pies every time I came to work. When he had stomach problems, I brought him medicine. Also, I brought him shaving accessories, the indictee said, adding that paramilitary formations never entered the Bunker detention camp while he was there.
The trial of Milanovic was renewed after the Supreme Court revoked a verdict of release passed down by the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo in 2008.
