Opposing Statements by Witnesses and Defence
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Zelenika agreed with the Defence counsel Edina Residovic that it was an incident one recalls, but he disagreed with the allegation that he did not speak about it at all before Dzeko was extradited to Bosnia and Herzegovina from the United States in late 2011.
I did mention it – please find the statement I gave to the ICTY investigators in 1995 and 1996,” the witness replied.
At the last hearing on 19 March, Zelenika testified that Dzeko took him out of the complex of Rogic house in Donja Jablanica where he was detained in September 1993, and pressed a gun against his head telling him: You will have to give me 5,000 marks or I am going to kill you.
He stated that, together with Dzeko, he left to collect money, eventually handing him 3,500 marks.
Dzeko, former member of the Zulfikar Army of BiH (ABiH), was accused of participating in the illegal arrest of nine civilians in Jablanica who were taken to a complex of the Rogic house. According to the indictment, he took one of the detainees out of the complex, and at gunpoint, forced him to collect 3,500 marks.
Zelenika stated that upon his release in March 1994 he worked for the Commission for War Crimes Investigation established by the Herceg-Bosna Croat Community (HZHB).
Defence counsel Residovic asserted that in 1995 this Commission provided the ICTY with the chronology of events related to mistreatment of Croats, including a list of potential suspects, pointing out that Dzeko was not mentioned therein.
I believe that there are documents where his name is indicated, the witness replied.
The Defence counsel asked the witness if he is prone to modify his statements, which the witness denied.
The trial of Dzeko, who is also charged with other crimes in Jablanica, as well as murders in Trusina village near Konjic will continue on 2 April.
