A Man with Dreadful Eyes

Testifying at the trial for crimes in the Konjic area, Prosecution witnesses say that they were beaten up by indictee Ibro Macic in the “Musala” detention camp.

Petar Petrovic was a reserve policeman with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Konjic. His task was to guard Serb detainees in “Musala” school gym until his arrest in April 1993. He said that he was arrested because of his name and the fact that he was a Croat. As he said, he was arrested by members of “Zuka’s unit”.

“We were arrested in Donje Selo. Women and children were held in one of the houses, while we were returned back to the village. Most of the men were then taken to Tarcin. Rasema, who has already been charged, took four of us to Podorasac,” said Petrovic, adding that he was then transported to “Musala”.

The Prosecution said that he was referring to Rasema Handanovic, former member of “Zulfikar” Unit with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, who was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for having participated in the shooting of six Croats in Trusina on April 16, 1993.  

Witness Petrovic said that, upon his arrival in “Musala”, he noticed that the place was “silent as a grave”, because of “a man with a machine gun”. According to the witness’ testimony, the person’s name was Ibro Macic, whom he recognised in the courtroom.

“I had a special meeting with him. He hit me with a wooden bar on my legs and back. I have permanent consequences because of that,” the witness said, adding that some other detainees told him that they had been beaten up by Macic as well.

He said that he was a special kind of guard, “a monster, a man with dreadful eyes”.

Macic is charged with having participated in the torture and sexual abuse of detainees in “Musala” school building in Konjic from April to October 1993.

Second Prosecution witness S-1 said that he was detained in “Musala”, while he was still a minor. The conditions were horrible. There was no water or food. As he said, they were subjected to torture and abuse.

“I was beaten by Macic Maca and Manager Edhem Zilic. Macic Maca hit me on my groins,” the witness said.

S-1 said that the beating left permanent consequences, adding that he could not have children, because of Macic Maca’s beating. He explained that he now knew that his name was Ibro, because he saw it on the Internet. He too recognised the indictee in the courtroom.

The Chamber announced that indictee Macic was invited to testify in defence of Osman Brkan on next Friday. The indictee and his Defence will respond later on.

On November 8 the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina separated the case against Osman Brkan, who was originally charged with Macic for having killed four old Serb women in Blace village in June 1992.

The trial of Ibro Macic is due to continue on December 6.