Closing Statement Presented at Dzevad Salcin Trial

Salcin, a former member of the Bosnian Army’s Zulfikar Squad, has been charged with cutting off a part of prisoner Dragan Vukovic’s ear in front of the Mraziste Hotel on Mount Igman in March 1993. Vukovic was being held in detention at the Mraziste Hotel.

Salcin has also been charged with beating prisoners in the kitchen of the Mraziste Hotel during the first half of 1993.

During the trial, witnesses said a man nicknamed “Struja” was the perpetrator of the abuse that took place on Mount Igman. Both the defendant and other men in the area shared that nickname. While presenting his closing statement, defense attorney Kerim Celik said the identity of the man nicknamed “Struja” had not been established.

“The witnesses confirmed that several people had the same nickname, at least two others…Was it Dzevad Salcin? The prosecution hasn’t proven that beyond a reasonable doubt,” Celik said.

Celik said none of the witnesses confirmed that Salcin was the same “Struja” who had tortured Dragan Vukovic.

Celik said none of the witnesses saw Vukovic’s torture, but heard about it from him directly.

Celik said witnesses who mentioned the defendant’s name during the trial couldn’t be trusted, because they had only mentioned the nickname Struja in their previous statements.

Celik said the prosecutor dealing with the case at the time encouraged the witnesses to mention Salcin’s name.

Celik said one witness accused Salcin of grave crimes but was unable to describe or recognize him.

Celik said several prosecution witnesses who were also Salcin’s former comrades said there were several men nicknamed Struja on Mount Igman.

He also said the verdict shouldn’t be based on the revised indictment. He said the indictment had been expanded to the detriment of the defendant, which was prohibited by law.

“In the revised indictment the prosecution said the ear cutting happened on an undetermined date, most probably in March, instead of May 1993. When it realized Salcin had an alibi for May, it revised the indictment,” Celik said.

He said Vukovic, since deceased, said in one of his statements that the abuse happened in May 1993.

According to the second count of the indictment, Salcin treated detainees held on Mount Igman in an inhumane manner.

Celik said not even the prosecution was certain of Salcin’s guilty with regards to this allegation, since it offered to give up the count if the defendant would admit to cutting off a part of Vukovic’s ear.

Celik said the indictment could not charge Salcin with crimes against civilians, but only with crimes against prisoners.

The defense will continue presenting its closing statement on December 10.