Sladoje was at Frontline on Day of Besic Abduction, Say Defense Witnesses

Jeftovic, himself a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, is testifying at the trial of Bosnian Serb Army fighters Goran Sladoje and Slobodan Bogdanovic. Sladoje and Bogdanovic been charged with abducting Bajro and Suad Besic from their house to a garage on June 13, 1992. The Besics were beaten, and then used by Sladoje and Bogdanovic as human shields at Sarejevo’s Jewish cemetery. Suad Besic was killed.

“We heard that some members of the Rogaticka Brigade had arrived. They brought Bajro Besic and his son Suad to a wall at the Jewish cemetery, although there was shooting…Suad got killed on that occasion, while Bajro managed to cross to the other side,” Jeftovic said.

He said that Sladoje was with him on the division line throughout the course of the war.

Jeftovic said that former Bosnian Serb Army fighters Sinisa Tosovic and Zoran Klaric (who died later on), were wounded in an attack on June 13, 1992 – the same day the Besic family was allegedly abducted from their home.

“Goran Sladoje drove Zoran Klaric to Kasindol on that day,” he said.

Prosecutor Aida Catovic asked Jeftovic whether they had problems with the Rogaticka unit, which had come from another town. Jeftovic said they hadn’t had any problems with them, but that some Bosnian Muslims did.

Zarko Trifkovic, the second defense witness, also said that he was on the front line with Sladoje on June 13, 1992.

“A general attack was conducted from Soukbunar towards Trebevicka street. Sinisa Tosovic was wounded by grenade shrapnel, while Zoran Klaric died due to injuries during that attack,” Trifkovic said. He said that Sladoje had transported Klaric to the unit’s medical service.

The trial will continue on March 24.