Two former members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina who were detained in Kula, claim to have been beaten and mistreated by police.
Prosecution witness Josip Sogovic, former detainee in Kula, recalled having been beaten up in “the transitory room†several times, adding that he was “sure†that manager Soniboj Skiljevic did not know anything about it.
“My acquaintance Braco Lazarevic paid me a visit. He took me to Soniboj. I did not even know his last name at the time. He asked me if anyone had beaten me up. I think I did not mention Govedarica, who had beaten me. I did not say that I had been beaten by anyone,†Sogovic said, thanking indictee Skiljevic for his “correct behaviourâ€.
The witness said that, following his conversation with indictee Soniboj Skiljevic, “nobody beat me up any moreâ€, but he was taken to other locations to perform forced labour.
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Skiljevic and Radoje Lalovic with the happenings that took place in the Kula Penal and Correctional Facility, near Sarajevo, where men, women and children were detained. The indictment alleges that detainees were “held in inhumane conditions†and forced to perform hard labour.
The indictment alleges that Lalovic was the Facility Manager and Skiljevic was his deputy until the end of 1992. Skiljevic allegedly became the Facility Manager in December 1992 and performed the role until the end of 1995.
Sogovic said that he was arrested as member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina “at the frontlines located in the Nisici plateau area†in the summer of 1994. As he said, he was first taken to “some house in Brgoli villageâ€. He was then taken, together with a few other detainees, to Ilijas, Pale and finally to Kula.
“Upon arrival to Kula we were taken to the transitory room. We were given some beans for lunch. The food was great, but we shall remember it as something bad. From that room they took us to an examination, which means beating. Even going to the toilet would be bloody. Policeman Govedarica beat me up on this occasion,†the witness said.
Sogovic left Kula after having been exchanged, following a 90-day detention in the Facility.
Second Prosecution witness Marijan Malesic, a former detainee in Kula, was captured, as member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the frontlines on Nisici plateau on August 19, 1994.
Malesic told the Court that he was brought to Kula, together with 11 other prisoners. He was detained in a cell, in which there was “one blanket to put on the floor and one to cover ourselvesâ€.
“We would get food in the morning, prior to going to other locations where we performed works. Due to the fact that I suffered from diabetes, my wife sent me some medications via the Red Cross. I would otherwise not get them,†the witness said, explaining that he performed forced labour at various locations, like “the Famos factory, Mount Trebevic and so onâ€.
Malesevic said that every time he was examined in Kula, he would also be beaten up.
The witness was exchanged and left Kula on October 26, 1994.
Malesevic recalled that a young man named Alen Kure was detained in Kula, adding that he was “killed while performing labourâ€. He said that he was wounded, but he died at the hospital.
The trial is due to continue on June 18.