veličina fonta

verzija za štampu

copyright

pošalji komentar

Kovac: Trial for Vitez Crimes Begins

Ante Kovac

13 August 2008  At the beginning of the trial of Ante Kovac the State Prosecution laid out its plans for presenting evidence. The Defence will present its plans at a later stage.

In its introductory argument, the Prosecution said it would prove that Ante Kovac had participated in crimes against Bosniak civilians in the Vitez area in 1993.


The Prosecution will examine 22 witnesses, including women who claim to have been raped by Kovac.


"In the course of the evidence presentation process the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina will examine four protected witnesses and present 24 pieces of material evidence,” Prosecutor Mirko Lecic said. “By doing this we will prove the actions committed by the indictee."


Kovac is charged, as commander of the Military Police Squad of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, Vitez Brigade, with having "ordered and approved" the unlawful detention of Bosniak civilians in the premises of the Radnicki University, the Public Accounting Service, and a cinema in Vitez in the course of 1993.


The detained civilians were held in inhumane conditions. They were forced to work on the frontline between the Bosnian Army and HVO forces, and at the "Kaonik" detention camp and in buildings belonging to the Chess Club in Busovaca.


"We will prove that the indictee raped witnesses A and B and confiscated valuables from some civilians," Lecic said.


The Defence will present its introductory arguments only after the Prosecution has presented all its evidence.


Kovac was arrested in January 2008. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed the indictment in March this year. Kovac has pleaded not guilty to all charges.


The examination of the first Prosecution witnesses is due to take place on Friday, August 15, 2008.