Protected Witness Describes Detainee Beatings in Bileca

B-1 testified at the trial of Goran Vujovic, Miroslav Duka, and Zeljko Ilic, former members of the Bosnian Serb police force, who are charged with war crimes in Bileca.

According to the state prosecution’s charges, Vujovic was the chief of the public safety station in Bileca, Duka was the police commander, and Ilic was a policeman.

Vujovic and Duka are charged with having enabled and organized the detention of Bosniak and Croat civilians in the public safety station and student dormitory in Bileca, where detainees were killed, tortured, and abused. Ilic is charged with having participated in the physical abuse, mental abuse, torture and murder of detainees.

According to B-1, he was brought to the police station on June 10, 1992. Upon his arrival, Goran Vujovic told him to go home and said no one was allowed to harm him in any way. B-1 said on the following day he was taken to a military post. He spent about seven days there before being transferred to the public safety station in Bileca.

B-1 explained that the beating of detainees began after a visit by the Red Cross at the public safety station. He said screams could be heard and detainees were covered with blood when they returned. He said the detainees said they were beaten by Miroslav Duka, while Zeljko Ilic was present. B-1 said he once saw Duka beat a protected witness known as A-1.

According to B-1, Bosnian Serb police officer Nedjo Kuljic called detainee Ferhat Avdic out of his cell on October 6, 1992. B-1 said he heard crying, and then silence. About ten or fifteen minutes later, B-1 was called upon as well.

B-1 recalled having seen Avdic lying on the floor of the duty officer’s room. He said Duka ordered Avdic to get up. B-1 said that Nedjko Kuljic then pulled Avdic up by his shoulders, while Duka hit him in the chest and head with his fists and legs. Avdic died later on.

B-1 said Duka beat him several times on the same occasion. The prosecution asked B-1 whether he suffered any physical or mental consequences from the beating.

“Duka destroyed 17 millimeters of my pupil with his foot,” B-1 said.

During his testimony, B-1 said he heard shouting one night during his detention. B-1 climbed on a barrel in a bathroom in order to look through a window. B-1 said he saw Duka and Ilic behind the police station. He said Duka was holding an automatic weapon and began shooting.

According to B-1, they were then ordered to open the windows and a smoke bomb was thrown into the room.

B-1 said the detainees blocked the door so no one could enter the room. He said a policeman told him Duka was drunk. B-1 said he was told that they were lucky, as “things could have gotten worse.”

When asked by the prosecution about the circumstances of his release, B-1 said he was released on December 17, 1992, when “Zeljko came with a list.”

Vujovic’s defense asked B-1 if he had heard the defendant call Bosniaks names. B-1 said he hadn’t.

Miroslav Duka’s defense asked B-1 whether he heard Vujovic or Duka issue any orders. B-1 said he couldn’t remember.

The trial will continue on March 31.