Slapped by Branko Vlaco

State Prosecution witnesses say, at the trial for crimes in Vogosca, that they saw indictee Branko Vlaco, a former Manager of the “Planjina kuca” detention camp, hitting a detainee.

Witnesses Esad Sehic and Halid Masnopita were brought from Ilijas municipality to “Planjina kuca” detention camp in Vogosca in 1992. They said that guards told them that Branko Vlaco was the detention camp Manager, while a Nebojsa Spiric, known as Spiro, was his Deputy.

They were taken from the detention camp to other locations, where they dug trenches, cut down trees or buried dead detainees.

Sehic said that Vlaco himself often decided where they would go in order to perform labour.  

“Avdo Durmic once complained about being hungry. Vlaco slapped him so hard that he fell down in front of all us,” Masnopita said, adding that, otherwise, the Manager treated them in a correct manner.

Witness Esad Sehic too spoke about that event. He said that his health deteriorated due to the labour he performed and the things that happened to him during his detention.

“The days when we had to go to Zuc were bad for us. We had to dig trenches, while bullets were flying around us. I was wounded. My brother, cousin and many other detainees were killed,” Sehic said.

The conditions in the detention camp were bad. According to the witness’ testimony, detainees bathed only once, when they swam in a nearby river.

Witness Masnopita told the Court that a television crew came to “Planjina kuca” one day. Vlaco had previously ordered them to clean their rooms. One of the guards, Vlaco and witness Masnopita, a former detainee, were interviewed by the television crew.

“I did not tell them what the real situation was. When they left, I would stay in the detention camp, so I was afraid of consequences,” said Masnopita, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic syndrome after having been exchanged.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Branko Vlaco with having committed crimes against humanity in his capacity as Manager of the “Planjina kuca”, “Nakina garaza”, “Kod Sonje” and “Bunker” detention camps. He is charged with having participated in a widespread and systematic attack by Serb forces against the civilian population from May to November 1992 and having raped a female.

When asked by Branko Vlaco’s Defence attorney Dragan Medjovic whether he was mistreated by the indictee, witness Masnopita answered negatively.

“Vlaco once invited him to his office on the second floor. I was exhausted and I could no longer perform labour. I told him that. He told me to rest for seven days,” Masnopita said.

The cross-examination of witness Muhamed Ruhotina, whom the Prosecution examined at the previous hearing, was completed today.

When asked by Defence attorney Rade Golic whether he remembered having had a beer with him in Nako’s workshop, Ruhotina answered negatively.

The trial is due to continue on July 10.