In its closing argument at the trial of three Bosniaks, ex Bosnian Army soldiers, for war crimes committed in Bosanska Krajina, the prosecution asks that the accused be found guilty.
Prosecutor Dubravko Campara said that during trial – which lasted almost three years – it has been proven that Mehura Selimovic, Adil Ruznic and Emir Mustafic took part in crimes against Serb civilians and prisoners of war in Bihac, Cazin and Bosanski Petrovac.
“The defendants, acting contrary to international conventions on protection of civilians and prisoners of war, took part in inhuman treatment and infliction of injuries on prisoners. Defendants Selimovic, Ruznic and Mustafic were aware of the physical and emotional abuse in places of imprisonment and wanted it to continue,” said Campara.
Selimovic, Ruznic and Mustafic are charged with assisting illegal imprisonment of members of the army and police of Republika Srpska between 1994 and 1996, as well as civilians imprisoned in detention centres in Bihac, Cazin and Bosanski Petrovac.
As specified in the indictment, Selimovic was a desk officer for counterintelligence affairs and deputy head of the Department of Military Intelligence of the 5th Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ruznic was assistant commander for security affairs, and Mustafic a military policeman.
Prosecutor Campara said that the accused Selimovic and Ruznic were senior officers in the 5th Corps of the Bosnian army and in charge of the detention centre in the Adil Besic army barracks in Bihac.
“The army intelligence of the 5th Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was in charge of prisoners, despite the fact that the army barracks had a warden. It is clear that the defendants Selimovic and Ruznic supervised the work of guards in detention facilities,” said the prosecutor.
According to the prosecutor, Serb civilians and prisoners of war in the Adil Besic army barracks in Bihac, in the auto repair shop Rad in Cazin and plastic factory in Bosanski Petrovac were held in “inhuman conditions”, without means to attend to their hygienic needs.
“The accused took part in exerting physical pressure on prisoners during their interrogation. Selimovic and Ruznic ordered abuse or intimidation of prisoners because they had actual control over guards, while Mustafic assisted in these acts as a guard,” said the prosecutor.
The trial of three former members of the Fifth Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina began in August 2009, and the accused are defending themselves while at liberty.
The defence will start its closing argument on June 27.
Timeline of events in the case against 13 former Serb fighters charged with committing war crimes in the villages of Cuska, Zahac, Ljubenic and Pavlac in Kosovo in 1999.