Defense Witnesses Say Halilovic Assisted Serb Civilians in Kladanj

Zijad Hamzic, Safet Mujcinovic, Ramiz Halilovic, Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Nedzad Hodzic, Osman Gogic and Kahro Vejzovic are on trial for war crimes in the Kladanj area. The defendants are former members of the civil police, the military police and the Territorial Defense. They’ve been charged with the unlawful detention, assault and inhumane treatment of Serb civilians in Stupari.

Defense witness Vojin Maksimovic testified at today’s hearing in defense of Ramiz Halilovic. Maksimovic said Halilovic separated him from a group of armed soldiers who intended to take him to Kladanj in late May 1992.

Maksimovic said seven armed soldiers appeared in front of his house in Stupari in the municipality of Kladanj.

“One of them put a pistol to my forehead and asked for weapons,” Maksimovic said.

Maksimovic said when he explained that he didn’t have any weapons, his house was searched. When the soldiers found nothing, he was forced into a vehicle and was driven in the direction of Kladanj. He said the vehicle stopped in front of the Slozna Braca cafe on the way.

According to Maksimovic, Halilovic, a police officer at the time, approached the soldiers and asked them what they were doing. When the soldiers said they were taking him to Kladanj, Maksimovic said Halilovic objected. He said the soldiers threatened Halilovic because he was protecting a Serb.

“It was a risky move. He was the only one who wanted to protect me at that moment,” Maksimovic said.

Maksimovic said Halilovic drove him to his uncle’s house in Stupari, where his mother was living at the time. According to Maksimovic, he asked Halilovic to take him and others to territory controlled by the Bosnian Serb Army, and he did so a few days later.

Defense attorney Vasvija Vidovic asked Maksimovic if the defendant asked for payment.

“He didn’t ask for anything and we didn’t offer him anything. It was a humane gesture,” Maksimovic said.

Ratko Markovic was the second witness to testify in Halilovic’s defense. He said Halilovic helped his son leave Stupari and escape to territory controlled by the Bosnian Serb Army in May 1992. Markovic said his son offered to give Halilovic his car in return, but he refused to take it.

When asked whether any Serbs in Stupari claimed Halilovic had beaten anyone, Markovic said he’d only heard positive comments about the defendant.

Both Maksimovic and Markovic said they hadn’t heard any negative stories about the defendant.

At today’s hearing the proceedings against Kahro Vejzovic were separated due to his poor health.

The trial will continue on January 15.