Witnesses Say Serb Police in Bileca Didn’t Ethnically Discriminate Them

The state prosecution has charged former Serb policemen Miroslav Duka, Goran Vujovic and Zeljko Ilic with the abuse of Bosniak and Croat civilians in Bileca during 1992.

According to the charges, Vujovic was the chief of the public safety station in Bileca, Duka was the station commander, while Ilic was a police officer.

Testifying at today’s hearing, defense witness Sabrija Eminovic said she was an employee at the Bileca health center and also worked there during the war. Eminovic said she met Duka at the beginning of the war. She said she met and spoke to him for the first at the health center, while she was checking to see if the entrance to the facility was closed.

“A warm and pleasant sounding voice said to me, “Don’t be afraid. It’s me,” Eminovic said. She said Duka had a mustache at the time, as he did now.

Eminovic said the friendliness and reassurance in Duka’s voice meant a lot to her at the time.

Eminovic said despite her Bosniak ethnicity, she didn’t need to leave Bileca. She said a hand grenade was once fired at a house next to hers, but heard it was aimed at Duka’s residence. She said she heard “Serbs fired a hand grenade at him.”

Eminovic said she wasn’t the only Bosniak to work at the health center in Bileca in 1992, mentioning the names of two Bosniak and one Croat colleague. She said a Bosniak doctor left Bileca in 1993.

Eminovic also said her daughter attended school throughout the war and didn’t face persecution because of her ethnicity.

She confirmed that she accompanied Zeljko Ilic’s wife when she was ill and transported to the military medical academy in Belgrade.

“He could have prevented me from going if he had not found me suitable,” Eminovic said.

Nagib Eminovic, Sabrija Eminovic’s brother, also testified at today’s hearing. He said he resided in Bileca throughout the war and worked at his patisserie in 1992.

He said police officers rescued him when four soldiers came to his establishment and attacked him. He said one of the soldiers pointed his rifle at him, cocked it and struck him in the chin, causing him to lose consciousness.

He said the police nearby saved his life on that occasion.

The prosecution had no questions for Sabrija and Nagib Eminovic.

The trial will continue on January 18.