As the trial for crimes committed in Kalinovik continues, the Defence teams present more than 70 pieces of material evidence.
The Defence of Nedjo Zeljaja and Djordjislav Askraba, who are charged with crimes committed in Kalinovik, presented a number of documents in an attempt to prove that their clients were not responsible for the events that took place in that region during the course of 1992 and 1993.
Zeljaja, Askraba and Ratko Bundalo are charged with crimes against humanity committed in the Kalinovik area in the course of 1992 and 1993.
The indictment alleges that Bundalo was Commander of the Tactical Group, TG, in Kalinovik, Zeljaja was Commander of the Public Safety Station, PSS, and Askraba was “Warden of Barutni magacin detention camp”.
The Defence of second indictee Zeljaja presented a small number of official notes on the participation of PSS Kalinovik members in the return of stolen property to Bosniaks, pertaining to property stolen by other people after the conflict had broken out in that area.
A certain number of documents issued by the Executive Board of Kalinovik Municipality were also introduced. These documents were addressed to the PSS in Kalinovik. They pertain to the search of apartments and the recruitment of people who performed civilian duties.
The second indictee’s Defence presented, as material evidence, various criminal reports against several people filed in 1992. The reports were signed by Bosko Govedarica, Commander of the PSS in Kalinovik.
The Defence of Askraba presented 13 pieces of material evidence, including lists of Bosniaks who were taken from Kalinovik to the Penal and Correctional Facility in Foca and vice-versa in the course of 1992.
The Tactical Group in Kalinovik took over 12 Bosniaks, who were released from the Foca Facility “in order to be exchanged”, but the date was not specified. As alleged by Askraba’s Defence, in March 1993, acting on an order issued by Bundalo the Kalinovik TG Command handed over one person to the Miljevina Battalion for exchange.
The indictment alleges that in August 1992 members of a paramilitary group from Miljevina took several men from “Barutni magacin” (“Gunpowder Depot”) to Foca and Kalinovik. The men have allegedly been missing since then.
The Prosecution objected to some of the pieces of material evidence presented by the Defence of Zeljaja and Askraba, claiming that they were not relevant to the trial. The Trial Chamber included them in the case file, but it will make a decision concerning their relevance at a later stage.
The trial is due to continue on Thursday, June 11.