Witness Claims No Findings on Injured Party in Osman Gogic Trial

According to the charges against him, Osman Gogic allegedly abused Velimir Celic in the Kladanj public safety station in June 1992.

Gogic is on trial with Safet Mujcinovic, Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Zijad Hamzic, Ramiz Halilovic and Nedzad Hodzic, former members of civil and military police and the Territorial Defense charged with crimes in Kladanj.

They have been charged with the unlawful detention of Serb civilians in Stupari, as well as their assault and inhumane treatment.

Mujo Sarac, the former commander of a squad in the village of Brloski Potok, testified at today’s hearing for the defense. Sarac said that Velimir Celic, whom he knew by sight, appeared in his squad’s zone of responsibility in June 1992. He said Celic was exhausted and sick. He said he also had scratches on his face.

“He said he had gotten lost at night and that he had walked in the woods and karst area for days. He just asked us to help him get to his friend Mujo Malkanovic, who would help him get to his sister in Kladanj,” Sarac said.

Sarac said he informed the commander of the Territorial Defense Headquarters in Kladanj about Velimir Celic’s arrival. The commander then sent military policeman Fadil Camdzic to Brloski Potok.

“In the meantime, Velimir informed us that he had weapons buried in the vicinity of his village and that he was willing to give us the weapons if we took him to his sister in Kladanj. Weapons meant a lot to us at that moment, so I decided we would not hand him over to the military police,” Sarac said.

Sarac said he shared his decision with the commander of the Territorial Defense Headquarters, who “commended him and said he did the right thing.”

He said that after having taken the weapons, they escorted Celic to his friend Mujo Malkanovic, who then accompanied him to Kladanj.

“This is all I know about Velimir Celic. I don’t know nor have I heard about what happened to him afterwards,” Sarac said.

Also testifying at today’s hearing, Rizah Kuluglic, the former assistant commander for security with the Territorial Defense in Kladanj, confirmed having seen Gogic patrolling the town once. He said he was trying to calm down some men who caused disorder.

Senko Halilovic, another defense witness and a former member of the military police, said the military police were situated in the Sumarstvo building in Kladanj. He said they moved to building number four and then to building number eight in the town.

Abedin Redzepovic, another former member of the military police, confirmed that members of military police were stationed in those buildings in Kladanj.

Redzepovic confirmed that all members of the military police were only in charge of soldiers and that they had nothing to do with the civilian population.

During cross-examination he said the military police had never arrested Serb civilians.

The trial will continue on March 4, when Gogic’s defense will examine five more witnesses.