Trial for Kotor-Varos War Crimes Still on Hold

Dragoslav Bojic, Savo Tepic, Dusko Maksimovic, Dusko Vujicic, Radojko Keverovic and Ilija Kurusic have been charged with participating in the detention, torture and other inhumane acts against Bosniaks and Croats in Kotor-Varos.

According to the charges, Tepic was the chief of the public safety station, Bojic was the commander of the police station in Kotor-Varos, Vujicic was a police officer, Maksimovic and Keverovic were reserve policemen, while Kurusic was a member of the Bosnian Serb Army.

Medical court expert Nikica Sutalo examined Bojic’s medical findings as per an order of the Bosnian state court in October. Sutalo had determined that his primary illness, cancer, had lessened in severity.

Sutalo said Bojic was capable of traveling and following the trial. He said later on he received additional documentation, indicating that Bojic had an orthopedic aid, which had been prescribed to him in order to prevent self-injury.

“He is incapable of traveling for three months because of that plaster cast,” Sutalo said.

Sutalo also said he found it illogical that the plaster cast hadn’t been set a month earlier, when fractures resulting from his disease had first appeared.

Sutalo said once the plaster cast is removed, the defendant will be ready to stand trial, pending any new health challenges.

The prosecution said it feared the trial might be postponed again, but said there was no need to separate the case against Bojic. Prosecutor Ozrenka Neskovic proposed that Sutalo examine Bojic, and not just his medical documentation, before making a final decision. The defense teams agreed with the proposal.

The chamber ordered Sutalo to visit Bojic at the beginning of December.

“We are postponing the trial until further notice, but be prepared for a hearing in late December or early January,” trial chamber chair Zoran Bozic said.

The last witness in the case was examined at a hearing held in February 2015. Bojic’s poor health has postponed the trial since.