Justice Report No. 242

In this issue:

- Perpetrators Walk Freely

The village of Zecovi, situated near the town of Prijedor, is reachable by unpaved road. Dense forests and meadows dotted with white flocks of sheep and the occasional sound of hammering in the homes of returnees give hope that there is still life in this small hamlet. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30986/

- Interview, Mustafa Bisic: ‘New Jail Won’t Solve Bosnia’s Prison Overflow’

Long-expected state-level facility meets highest European standards - but with only 300 places it won’t entirely ease the problem of crowded jails, Bosnia’s deputy justice minister warns. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30987/

- Dragan Rodic Sentenced to Eight Years’ Imprisonment

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has accepted a guilt admission agreement and sentenced Dragan Rodic to eight years in prison for crimes against humanity and crimes against prisoners of war committed in the Drvar area. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30979/

- Verdict of Release Confirmed in Ferid Hodzic Case

The Appellate Chamber of the State Court has confirmed the verdict acquitting Ferid Hodzic of all charges for crimes committed in the Vlasenica area, rejecting “as groundless” the appeals filed by the State Prosecution and injured party Andja Obradovic. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30999/

- Savic and Mucibabic: Retrial Due to Begin in November

The retrial of Krsto Savic and Milko Mucibabic is due to begin on November 10, as per a decision made at a status conference held at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30976/

- Neskovic and Ilic Plead not Guilty

Dragan Neskovic and Zoran Ilic have pleaded not guilty to crimes against humanity and other crimes committed in Srebrenica in July 1995, including the murder of male prisoners in Kravica. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30983/

- Klickovic et al: Verdict Due to be Pronounced on November 5

After the presentation of closing arguments at the trial for crimes committed in Bosanska Krupa, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina denied that guilt admission agreements were proposed to indictees Gojko Klickovic and Jovan Ostojic. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30991/

- Klickovic et al: Salvo of Accusations and No Evidence

In their closing arguments, the Defence of Mladen Drljaca and Jovan Ostojic say their clients did not know about what took place in detention centers in Bosanska Krupa, adding that those who issued key orders are still at large. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30982/

- Adamovic and Lukic: No Manpower or Competencies

Bosko Lukic told the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina that he never participated in crimes against non-Serbs in the Kljuc area, adding he first heard about most of the crimes at the trial. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30977/

- Analysis – Adamovic and Lukic: Hellish Detention Camps and Brutal Murders

After more than two years, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has completed its presentation of evidence at the trial of Vinko Kondic, Bosko Lukic and Marko Adamovic, who are charged with crimes committed in Kljuc. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30969/

- Kornjaca et al: Trial Start Date Still Uncertain

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has agreed to allow indictee Milun Kornjaca to undergo coronary artery screening in Banja Luka in order to determine whether he is capable of following the trial. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30971/

- Memic et al: Crimes Committed by “Local Soldiers”

Testifying at the trial for Trusina crimes, a Prosecution witness says that “local members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina” are responsible for murder and wounding of Croats in the village. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/31002/

- Memic et al: Soldiers in Black Uniforms

At the trial for crimes committed in Trusina village, a Prosecution witness says that "unknown soldiers dressed in black uniforms" were responsible for the murder of her parents during the course of the attack on the village in April 1993. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30988/

- Koricanske stijene: Chief’s Orders

Former members of the Public Safety Station in Prijedor testify as additional witnesses for the Defence of Dusan Jankovic, who is charged with crimes committed at Koricanske stijene, and analyse signatures on various letters written in 1992. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30984/

- Koricanske stijene: Last and Biggest Convoy

Additional witnesses testified today in defence of Dusan Jankovic, who is charged with crimes committed at Koricanske stijene, saying he did not escort the convoy of civilians who were shot on Mount Vlasic on August 21, 1992. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30973/

- Gasal et al: Mistreatment of Bosniak Civilians

At the trial of four indictees charged with crimes committed against Bosnian Croats in Bugojno, Senad Dautovic’s defence witnesses speak about the arrest and mistreatment of Bosniak civilians from Vrbanja and the surrounding area. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30990/

- Jevic et al: Witness Cross-Examined

At the trial of four indictees charged with genocide committed in Srebrenica, the Defence teams cross-examined a Prosecution witness who testified under protection measures. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30970/

- Karadzic: Setting up Incidents in Sarajevo

As he continued with his testimony, Dragan Miokovic, former leader of a team of investigators with the Safety Services Center, SSC, in Sarajevo, denies indictee Radovan Karadzic’s allegations that investigation findings and crime locations were manipulated in the city. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/31004/

- Karadzic: Ten Thousand Victims in Sarajevo

A former policeman from Sarajevo testifies at the trial of Radovan Karadzic and says that more than 1,000 children were killed in the city during the course of the war. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30995/

- Karadzic: Imaginative Excuses for Blocking Convoys

At the trial of Radovan Karadzic, a former Chief of Headquarters of UNPROFOR Command says that a Serb Army general told him he would “make sure” that trams in Sarajevo would be targeted by snipers. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30992/

- Karadzic: Dangerous Investigations

As he continues his testimony at the trial of Radovan Karadzic, a former Crime Technician with the Sarajevo police says his life was “constantly in danger” when he performed investigations into shelling incidents. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30981/

- Transitional Justice Strategy Focused on Victims

Victims’ associations from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking at public consultations, have said that they support the preparation of a transitional justice strategy, hoping it will contribute to the clearer determination of facts related to the wartime period. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/31000/

- Week ahead: Verdict for Bosanska Krupa Crimes Due

First verdict for crimes committed in Bosanska Krupa area in 1992, which are charged upon Gojko Klickovic, Mladen Drljaca and Jovan Ostojic, is due to be pronounced before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina next week. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/31003/

- Local justice: 17 Years of Silence

Prominent physician Veljko Sladojevic, who was killed 17 years ago in the town which still hides the crime perpetrators, will be buried in Zenica on Saturday, October 30, 2010. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/31006/

- Local Justice: 21 Years in Prison for Vrbanja Crimes

The District Court in Banja Luka pronounced a first instance verdict, sentencing Dalibor Ponorac to eight and Marko Maric to 13 years in prison for war crimes committed in Vrbanja in December 1993. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/31005/

- Local Justice: Closing Arguments for Vrbanja Crimes Presented

In its closing arguments before the District Court in Banja Luka, the Prosecution urged the Court to hand down prison sentences against Dalibor Ponorac and Marko Maric, charged with war crimes in Vrbanja, while the Defence called for acquittal. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30989/

- Local Justice – Bihac: Identification of Family Members

At the trial for crimes committed in Sanski Most held at the Cantonal Court in Bihac, the Prosecution examined seven witnesses who spoke about the killing of their family members in this area. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30978/

- Local Justice - Ostojic: No Negative Character Traits

Testifying in defence of Zarije Ostojic, on trial before the District Court in Eastern Sarajevo for beating civilians in Susica detention camp near Vlasenica, a witness speaks about the indictee’s personality. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30994/

- Local Justice – Work Begins on Suspected Mass Grave in Brcko

As per an order issued by the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, work has begun on the exhumation of a suspected mass grave in Gorica, near Brcko, where officials suspect the remains of a large number of civilians killed during the war are buried. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30985/

- Local Justice: Search for the Missing Continues in Herzegovina

Although the bodies of more than 2,000 people killed during the war in Bosnia have already been exhumed from graves in the Herzegovina area, the Institute for Missing People says the search for 750 more people continues. http://www.bim.ba/en/242/10/30972/

For further information: Balkan Investigative Reporting Network