Nedzad Hodzic Fit to Stand Trial

Based on medical evidence, expert Cemalovic assessed that the defendant is capable of attending and following the trial for three hours at the most, punctuated with short breaks.

On the Defence’s request, he examined defendant Hodzic, who was charged together with Dzevad Salcin with crimes committed in the Igman territory.

Cemalovic said that Hodzic has simulative behaviour, which is why he cannot give a precise assessment of his mental and physical condition.

He said that the aggravating circumstance during examination was that Hodzic refused to co-operate, and that he was trying to conceal his actual mental state.

“If you have a person which when asked how many arms and legs it has does not know the answer, or to question which of his sons is older, and at the same time constantly claims he was framed, then the whole thing is telling for us doctors. His behaviour shows certain neurological slips, which is why I claim he is consciously masking his real clinical state,” explained Cemalovic.

The Prosecution has charged Hodzic and Salcin, members of the Zulfikar special purposes detachment with the High Command of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with torturing, beating up and sexually abusing prisoners, cutting off their body parts, intimidating them and participating in other inhumane acts in 1993.
 
These crimes were committed in the Mraziste hotel and at other locations. The crimes were committed against Serb prisoners who were brought from camps Silos and Krupa in Tarcin, in the Hadzici municipality, as well as Croat victims brought from camps Musala in Konjic.
 
Nedzla Sehic, the lawyer of defendant Hodzic, who requested the examination, said that the defence asked for this so that he could be examined at a psychiatric hospital for several days and not in the prison unit for an hour.
 
“Honourable court, everyone who is in contact with Hodzic knows his physical and mental condition. He was examined four times, but never the way we asked for now. That is the reason why I insist once more that the examination be carried out at a clinic, where my client could be observed for several days. After that, I would accept that he is fit to stand trial,” explained lawyer Sehic.
 
The Prosecution said they had no objections to the results of the examination.

The Trial Chamber scheduled the beginning of the trial for November 7, when the Prosecution will read the indictment and make an opening argument.