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Planojevic, who was also the chief of Republika Srpska state security service for the Sarajevo area testified that on more than occasion that Karadzic insisted that the law be abided.
Karadzic is charged with the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout BiH, Srebrenica genocide, terrorising civilians in Sarajevo and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.
According to Planojevic, at the beginning of the war there was widespread plunder and criminal groups were everywhere.
Planojevic blamed Bosniak paramilitary formations for starting the war. According to his statement, 95% of reserve police officers armed since 1991 were Bosniaks, some of whom were notorious criminals. The weapons were hidden even in the mosques, the witness noted.
Novi grad Police Station in Sarajevo Municipality where Planojevic worked back in early April 1992 was attacked by Green Berrets, on which occasion a police officer was murdered.
In cross-examination, prosecutors presented Planojevic with a document by which the then Minster ordered that documentation on crimes against Serbs be collected. The witness replied that he “did not recall that, noting that all crimes were supported with documentation.
When the Prosecution argued that the most extensive investigation pertained to vehicle theft from the Sarajevo Golf Factory, Planojevic replied that he could not give a specific answer.
In replaying to the questions of the Prosecution, Planojevic corroborated that he heard about crimes committed by Veselin Vlahovic (also known as Batko) in Grbavica settlement. Vlahovic disappeared for a while only to subsequently come back to this settlement. According to the witness, the Army of Republika Srpska arrested Vlahovic: ” I am not aware for how long he was remanded in custody… Later I heard… He either ran away or was released. When asked if Vlahovic was ever prosecuted during the war, Planojevic replied: I am not aware of that.
On Friday 29 March, the State Court in Sarajevo will pronounce a verdict in the Vlahovic trial who is charged with crimes against Grbavica civilians during the war in BiH.
When the prosecutor implied that the Republika Srpska Ministry of the Interior took actions against “Yellow Wasps”, the paramilitary formation which committed crimes against Bosniaks in Zvornik, only after they started seizing at the Serbian border VW Golf vehicles that were stolen in Sarajevo, Planojevic stated that it is “incorrect” and that the operation against them had been prepared long before.
The trial of Karadzic will continue on Tuesday, 2 April.
