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Witness Miroslav Krsmanovic told the Court that he saw indictee Oliver Krsmanovic in front of the mosque in the town, but he did not mention the exact date. However, he said that the indictee was not with the uniformed soldiers who set the mosque on fire.
“I gave a ride to our unit cash-keeper, who had to go to the bank. Oliver appeared in his car, bringing Momir Savic, Commander of the Third Company, who also had to go to the bank. We went for a drink together, as otherwise we would have to wait in front of the bank,” the witness said.
The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina pronounced a first instance verdict against Savic, former Commander of the Third Company with the Visegrad Brigade, sentencing him to 18 years in prison for war crimes, but he fled on the eve of the pronouncement of the verdict. He has been unavailable to Bosnian prosecuting bodies since 2009.
According to the witness’ testimony, the mosque was not burnt that day. He said that, passing by the mosque a few days later, he saw that it had been destroyed.
When asked by Trial Chamber member Jasmina Kosovic if he was speaking about the Careva mosque, the witness did not know the answer.
According to the State Prosecution’s charges, Krsmanovic, former member of the Second Podrinje Light Infantry Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, participated in and helped the commission of murders, rape and forced disappearances of the Bosniak population from Visegrad.
Second witness Slobodan Andric said that he was mobilised on May 18, 1992 and that he first met the indictee when he joined other soldiers in Drinsko village.
“I used to see Oliver in that village every day. He was a driver. Also, he kept guard when need be,” the witness explained, adding that he was member of the Third Company, just like the indictee, until September 9, 1992, when he was transferred to the Fifth Company, which was based at a different location.
The trial is due to continue on September 10.
