Krsmanovic Fought with Milan Lukic, Witness Says

Krsmanovic fought in Milan Lukic’s paramilitary group during the Bosnian war. He stands accused of committing several crimes against civilians in the Visegrad area.

The indictment alleges that Krsmanovic and others locked civilians inside the house of Meho Aljic in Visegrad. The house was set on fire, and approximately 70 civilians were burned alive. Only one woman survived. Most of the victims were women and children.

Krsmanovic is also charged with participating in the burning of the Careva Dzamija (the Emperor’s Mosque) and the disappearance of several Bosniak civilians.

The protected witness, known as OK-18 in this trial, had previously testified at the trial of Milan Lukic. Lukic was sentenced to life imprisonment by the ICTY.

State prosecutor Mirko Lecic read a portion of OK-18’s testimony at Krsmanovic’s trial. In her testimony, OK-18 described the last group of civilians to be taken into Meho Aljic’s house.

“Milan [Lukic] yelled at the last group. Those were my neighbours, my dear friends, who used to visit me at my place,” she said in her statement.

Her statement goes on to to state that she could clearly recognize members of Lukic’s group in front of the Aljic home.

Prosecutor Lecic also read a statement given by witness Musa Kustura during the investigation phase of the case.

“I heard about Milan Lukic’s group, whose members committed the gravest crimes,” her statement said.

During the investigation phase of the case Kustura had said that Krsmanovic joined Milan Lukic’s group. The prosecutor said Kustra recalled having seen Krsmanovic among a group of soldiers while smoke was coming out of the Careva Dzamija (the Emperor’s Mosque) near the Rzavski Bridge in Visegrad.

“They were shouting and singing. I noticed Oliver Krsmanovic among them. It became clear to me immediately that the group set the mosque on fire,” her statement said.

Prior to these statements, defense attorney Slavisa Prodanovic included his remaining material evidence in the case file. This included an indictment against former Bosnian Serb fighter Jovan Popovic. Prodanovic explained that this indictment mentions that Popovic abducted Resad Mucovski, a crime for which Krsmanovic has also been accused.

“We are trying to prove that the man was taken away by him [Jovan Popovic], not by my client,” Prodanovic said.

Prosecutor Lecic commented on this piece of evidence, and said that the indictment alleged that Popovic acted in collaboration with others.

The trial will continue on March 17.