Beating in Silos

Testifying for the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bilic, former member of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, said that he was arrested and brought to Silos in June 1993. After having been brought to the facility, he was taken to an office in order to be examined.

“They asked me how many Muslims I had killed. I sad none, but they claimed that I had done it. They beat me. I do not know those people. There were several of them. They hit me on my back,” Bilic said.

The witness said that, following the examination, he was detained in a cell. Other Croats had already been in the cell.

Crimes committed in Silos detention camp, “Krupa” military barracks and “9. maj” school building are charged upon Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember.

According to the charges, Becir Hujic was Manager and also Deputy Manager of the “Silos” detention camp, just like Halid Covic. Kalember was a guard in Silos, while the other indictees were members of civilian, military and police authorities.

Witness Bilic said that, besides men, women too were detained in Silos.

Describing the living conditions in Silos, Bilic said that detainees did not bathe and that they urinated and defecated in the cell.

“The conditions were bad. Food was not good enough. We used to get a small slice of non-fresh bread, rice, potato…” he said, adding that the conditions improving following a visit by the Red Cross.

Bilic said that, prior to having been arrested, he lived in Pirin village, Kiseljak municipality. He and other local residents had kept guards in that area before he was arrested.

The trial is due to continue on October 10.