State Prosecution Presents Accounts of Bileca Crimes by Deceased Witnesses

Duka, the former Bileca police commander, Vujovic, the former chief of the Bileca public safety station, and Ilic, a former police officer, have been charged with war crimes in Bileca. Nedjeljko Kuljic, since deceased, was also charged under the same indictment.

Vujovic and Duka have been charged with enabling and organizing the detention of Bosniak and Croat civilians in Bileca, where detainees were killed, tortured and abused. Ilic has been charged with participating in their abuse.

A statement given by protected witness A-7 to the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) in 2013 was read aloud in the courtroom. In his statement, A-7 said he was arrested on June 12, 1992. He said he was detained in the public safety station in Bileca, and was then transferred to a student dormitory 10 or 15 days later.

“I stayed in the student dormitory for around two and a half months. The room’s walls were made of glass. Sometimes the policemen who guarded us let us open the windows,” A-7 said.

A-7 said approximately 70 Bosniak civilians were held in that room. He said police officers physically and mentally mistreated the detainees.

“Nobody beat me, but it happened to other detainees. Somebody shot towards the premises in which were were held…When the shooting was over, they threw tear gas in,” A-7.

A-7 said a prisoner named Mustafa Babovic told him he was beaten by defendant Miroslav Duka and Nedjeljko Kuljic.

In his statement, A-7 said a prisoner named Mehmed Murguz was electrocuted and a prisoner named Ferhat Avdic died after having been beaten. He said he was aware of the deaths of other prisoners as well.

A-7 said he was released from detention in December 1992.

“Miroslav Duka came in the evening and told us we were free to go,” A-7 said.

A statement given by former prisoner Sajto Bajramovic to SIPA in 2009 was also read aloud in the courtroom. In his statement, Bajramovic said after his arrest he was transferred from the police station to the student dormitory, where more than 80 people were detained.

Bajramovic said other detainees, including his son, were beaten. He said he knew that some detainees had been electrocuted and that a prisoner had the Serbian cross etched onto his body with blades. He also mentioned the tear gas which had been thrown into the detention quarters.

Bajramovic said he was released in October 1992. He saw Miroslav Duka and Zeljko Ilic on the day of his release.

“Duka said, ‘I am God.’ He was reading names from a list,” Bajramovic said.

The trial will continue on September 8.