Bosnian Prosecutor Urges Jail for Sarajevo Police Chief

In his closing statement in the trial, prosecutor Munib Halilovic told the Sarajevo court on Monday that the evidence indicated that Saric knew the details about the Bosnian Serb war effort in Nahorevo and beyond.

He added that the evidence showed that the defendant was chief of the police station in what was known during wartime as the Serb Municipality of Centar, although the prosecution could not provide written proof about his appointment to the role.

Saric is charged with ordering all the men in Nahorevo to come to the local community centre. From there, around 100 Bosniaks were taken and locked up in the Jagomir hospital building. A group of 11 prisoners was later executed at Skakavac.

The indictment says that Saric ordered the rest of the non-Serb population to surrender, after which around 200 women, children and elderly were moved by force to territory controlled by the Bosnian Army.

Halilovic said that the defendant participated in actions aimed at “eliminating members of another ethnicity”.

“The intention of the defendant to commit crimes is reflected in his actions. He was the chief of police and had the duty to protect all individuals, but he did not… The defendant did not want the death of all civilians, but he thought that the murder of some was a justified proposition,” said Halilovic.

The defence will present its closing arguments on June 24.