Witness Describes Begovic as Most Aggressive Guard at Batkovic Camp

Begovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the assault of Bosniak civilians and prisoners of war in the Batkovic detention camp in the summer of 1992, as well as other crimes.

State prosecution witness Ismet Ferhatbegovic said he was transferred from a detention camp in Vlasenica to Batkovic on June 28, 1992. He said he and other detainees were told they were going to be exchanged.

Ferhatbegovic said when entering a hangar in Batkovic, all the detainees had to walk between two rows of guards who hit them with batons.

“Nobody could pass by without being hit,” Ferhatbegovic said. He said after they entered the hangar, they lined them up and kicked them.

Ferhatbegovic said Begovic and guards named Veselin and Major were violent towards the prisoners. He said Begovic was the worst.

“He stood at the entrance of the hangar and beat our shoulder blades with a baton. Nobody could walk by him without being hit. Gligor singled out Alija Konjanik and hit him on the chin like he was a Judo fighter,” Ferhatbegovic said.

Ferhatbegovic said other prisoners were beaten in Batkovic. He said a butcher and a goldsmith died in the hangar.

“We heard cries and beating…When they threw them back into the hangar, their lips were cracked from their suffering,” Ferhatbegovic said.

Ferhatbegovic said he didn’t see how took them out and beat them.

Begovic’s defense attorney asked Ferhatbegovic whether he remembered the guard who beat him.

“Here he is. Gligor. A short dark man. He used to wear a gray and olive military uniform. He wore shoes when beat people up,” Begovic said.

Ferhatbegovic said he knew Begovic, and said he was younger and better looking during the war.

Ferhatbegovic confirmed that he had hearing problems, and that he mistakenly thought Begovic’s first name was Igor. He said when he gave his statement, he asked his nephew what his name was.

The trial will continue on July 15.