Bosniak Detainee Jailed for Beating Fellow Inmates

The cantonal court in Mostar on Monday convicted Alagic, also known as Lav, of committing crimes at the Dretelj detention camp near Capljina in the summer of 1993.

Alagic signed an admission of guilt stating that he beat fellow inmate Mustafa Hodzic with a hose and a wooden pole and Semir Balavac with a rod while acting as an orderly in the detention camp.

“The chamber considers that the defendant has fully understood the nature of the agreement and that there is sufficient evidence, in addition to his admission of guilt, to pronounce a verdict of conviction,” presiding judge said Slavko Pavlovic.

The time Alagic has spent in custody, from November last year onwards, will be counted towards his sentence.

Prior to the signing of the agreement, which happened during a break in the hearing, Hodzic said he was taken to Dretelj in the summer of 1993 and detained together with about 50 other people in a room without windows.

He recalled how Alagic mistreated him in the detention camp by beating him with a hose, a wooden pole and a cable.

“He was a detainee, just like us. I do not know where he slept or ate, but it seems to me he was privileged in the Dretelj detention camp. This means he could beat other detainees,” Hodzic said.

Balavac also said that Alagic abused other prisoners at Dretelj after they were taken outside to eat.

“Then they would tell us to lie down on the back on hot concrete. Alagic then hit us with a rod on our face. He sometimes slapped us in the face as well,” Balavac said.

Both witnesses identified Alagic in the courtroom, saying he was the person who mistreated them in the detention camp.