Serbs Arrested for Weapon Possession

Mehmed Susic, former member of reserve police forces, said that some persons from Hadzici municipality were arrested and brought to the Police Station due to possession of weapons.

“Weapon possession was a crime. At the beginning we were ordered not to beat and mistreated the civilian population. I did not see that anyone did that,” the witness said.

During the cross-examination Susic said that the disarming of Serbs began after the Serb forces had conducted a general attack on Hadzici. He said that armed people were dangerous, adding that this was the only reason for their arrests.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember with having committed crimes in the “Silos” detention camp, “Krupa” military barracks and “9. maj” school building.

According to the charges, Hujic was Manager and Deputy Manager of “Silos” detention camp, just like Halid Covic. Kalember was a guard in “Silos”, Sabic was Commander of the Police Station in Pazaric, while the other indictees were members of civil, military and police authorities.

Susic said that, after having been arrested and examined, some persons were taken to the school building in Pazaric.

Testifying at this hearing, witness Muradif Nuhanovic, former guard in the school building, said that about a hundred Serb detainees were held in that building. He said that the detainees stayed in the building until the school roof was hit by a grenade.

Nuhanovic said that Nail Hujic was Commander of the Police Station and that he was replaced by Mirsad Sabic, but he did not on which date it happened. When Sabic’s Defence presented him with a schedule of guard shifts made on June 15, 1992, which indicated that Hujic was still Commander of police on that date, the witness said that it was possible.

Nuhanovic began testifying on October 31. His testimony was interrupted in order to prevent him from incriminating himself. A legal advisor was appointed to assist him.

Ibrahim Hasic, former guard in “Krupa”, who testified as the third witness at this hearing, said that guards received orders from a man named Camil, who was the leader of the Guarding Service. According to the witness’ testimony, Serif Mesanovic was Manager of that prison.

“Detainees slept on wooden pallettes. They had sponge mats. They had heating stoves,” he said.

Following a break, the Trial Chamber halted the examination of this witness, because he had high blood pressure. The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that it would not invite him again.

Uzeir Bajric, former guard in “Krupa”, said that he knew some of the detainees, because they were his neighbours.

“We treated detainees in a correct manner. Serif Mesanovic gave us a strict order not to let anyone enter the prison and mistreat prisoners,” he said.

During the course of the hearing the Trial Chamber warned Prosecutor Zorica Djurdjevic several times due to the way she examined witnesses, explaining that she was making suggestive questions.

The trial is due to continue on November 14.