Witnesses Describe Torture of Kamenica Prisoners at Glogovac Trial

The state prosecution has charged Glogovac, a former military police officer with the Doboj operational group of the Ninth Battalion of the First Krajiski Corps of the Bosnian Serb Army, with causing severe physical and mental suffering to civilians and prisoners of war.

The injured parties were allegedly detained in the basement of the Franjo Herljevic hunting lodge in Kamenica in the municipality of Zavidovici from June-August 1992. Glogovac allegedly acted in collaboration with other members of the Bosnian Serb Army.

According to the indictment, Glogovac beat detainees Ahmedin Memcic, Zuhdija Memcic, Besir Softic and others. He kicked them and punched them until they lost consciousness. The beatings allegedly occurred several times a day.

State prosecution witness Sedin Luzic testified at today’s hearing. Luzic said he was captured in the village of Ljeskovica in the municipality of Zepce on July 20, 1992, along with three other persons. He said they were taken to a local community center, where soldiers beat them up.

“On the following day they blindfolded us, loaded us onto a tractor and drove us for several hours. We went to Kamenica. There was a big building. Later on I found out it was the Franjo Herljevic hunting lodge. They took us to the ground floor. They beat us immediately. I saw traces of blood and urine…We heard screams coming from other rooms. They beat us with batons, rifle butts, punches and kicks,” Luzic said.

Luzic said he was ordered to perform forced labour as well. He said soldiers also beat him and threatened him while working.

Besir Softic, another former captive, also testified at today’s hearing. Softic he was captured in July 1992 and taken to the village of Kamenica.

“They took us into the premises. I saw bloody fingerprints on the walls. I saw children’s fingerprints…They punched me, kicked me, hit me with batons. They beat four of us. They broke my ribs that day. The room was filled with blood. We rolled around in our own blood,” Softic said.

Softic said he found out later on that he was detained at the Franjo Herljevic hunting lodge. He said he was exchanged 20 days later.

Mehmed Hodzic, another former captive, was the third witness to testify at today’s hearing.

“They tortured us every day…We performed push-ups so they could hit our stomachs and backs. They kicked us, they hit us with wooden sticks, batons. Each day was a disaster. We had to work as well. We had to clean the toilets, to unload trucks. They beat us while we worked as well,” Hodzic said.

The trial will continue on October 26.