Jukic: Witnesses Unable to Appear

Prosecutor Sanja Jukic explained that two of the witnesses were not able to come to Sarajevo due to bad weather conditions on the road, while the third witness was currently in hospital.

“We are in contact with the witnesses. I propose that we invite the same witnesses to the next hearing, because I think that they will be able to appear,” the Prosecutor explained.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Zeljko Jukic, former member of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, with having participated, along with other members of HVO and the Croatian Army, HV, in the persecution of Bosniak civilians, as well as murders and forcible disappearances of the Bosniak population from Prozor municipality, in the period from July to September 1993.

According to the charges, on July 6, 1993 Jukic participated, in collaboration with a group of HVO members, in an attack against the Bosniak civilian population in Duge village, Prozor municipality, where he killed a 73-year old man in front of his family house.

The State Prosecution alleges that, in mid July 1993 Jukic participated in transportation of several hundreds of prisoners from Prozor to Dretelj detention camp in Capljina, where they were mistreated.

Besides that, Jukic is charged with having come to the Secondary School Centre in Prozor on August 3, 1993, from where five prisoners were taken to the “Duska kosa” dump. They have been missing ever since.

The trial of Jukic began in April 2012. He has been held in custody since his arrest in November 2011.

The next hearing is due to be held on February 21.