Doboj Court Cannot Locate Witnesses
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“The Court still does not have the exact addresses at which witnesses Amir and Amira Ikotic live. The Court sent a written request to SIPA (the State Investigation and Protection Agency), but we have still not received these details. We cannot continue working until we have received them,” said Trial Chamber Chairwoman Hatidza Hodzic.
District Prosecutor Izudin Berberovic said that these witnesses previously gave statements to an investigative judge in Zenica, but their testimony at the trial is needed due to changes in Amira Ikotic’s statements.
The Trial Chamber accepted a Defence’s proposal that indictee Pijunovic testify in his defence.
“There is no possibility for my client to testify prior to the testimony by those witnesses who are mentioned in one of the graver counts in the indictment,” Sinisa Lopandic, Defence attorney of the indictee said.
The Doboj District Prosecution charges Pijunovic with having participated in the torture, taking away, rape and detention of civilians in the period from May to July 1992. According to the charges, Pijunovic was a member of the “Mice – Red Berets” police formation with the Republika Srpska, RS armed forces.
The indictment alleges that Pijunovic confiscated “money for the Serbian Army” from a non-Serb, while threatening the person with his gun.
The Trial Chamber will render a decision concerning a Defence’s request to confront previously examined Prosecution witnesses Asir Kopic and Saban Mesinovic with indictee Pijunovic, at a later stage.
