Convictions Urged for Bosnian Serb Wartime Camp Guards

The Bosnian prosecution in its closing statement on Tuesday urged the state court in Sarajevo to convict Boris Bosnjak, Milos Mavrak, Miodrag Grubacic and Ilija Djajic of crimes against humanity.

The defendants are charged with participating in beating detainees held at the former Mose Pijade military barracks in Bileca and enabling others to enter the detention facility and assault the prisoners.

Prosecutor Adis Nuspahic argued that the crimes were committed as part of a systematic attack on the Bosniak and Croat population by Bosnian Serb troops and police in the Nevesinje, Gacko, Stolac and Mostar areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina from May to August 1992.

“There was not a single reason to arrest the population, and the defendants knew of the attack and acted in their capacities as commander of guards and guards at the detention camp in Bileca,” Nuspahic said.

“Conditions in the prison were extremely inhumane. The defendants created and maintained them. When the defendants were not on duty, no physical and mental mistreatment happened,” the prosecutor added.

According to the prosecution, four people died at the detention camp due to physical mistreatment or insufficient medical treatment.

The indictment claims that Bosnjak was a member of the Seventh Battalion of the Bosnian Serb Army’s Military Police who acted as commander of the guards at the camp, while the three other defendants were guards and also Bosnian Serb Army troops.

The defence will present its closing arguments on January 21.