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Osmic: Deformed Faces

Alija Osmić

18 March 2010  Stipica Djapic, former Medical Chief with the First Battalion of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, in Bugojno, told the Court he offered medical assistance to HVO members, who were "brutally beaten" during their detention in the town.

"As I am a doctor, guards called me to help those people, who had been beaten. In most cases their faces were deformed. They had hematoma and bruises. They had difficulties breathing. Their backs were covered with bruises," Djapic, a former detainee in Bugojno, said, adding that he used to see people who had "internal bleeding and fractures caused by strong blows with various objects" in the Marxist Center and Iskra detention camp.

Djapic was testifying for the State Prosecution at the trial of Alija Osmic, a former military policeman with the 307th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, who is charged with having participated, between July 1993 and March 1994, in crimes against Croat civilians, who were detained in "basements and garages, as well as the Marxist Center - Cloister" and "Iskra" stadium detention camp in Bugojno.

Djapic said members of the ABiH captured him at the end of July 1993 and detained him in the basement of a house in the vicinity of Kalin hotel in Bugojno.

"We could still hear shooting and conflict. However, a couple of days later they took us to a house in Karadze, where we stayed for about a week. There were ten other people in the house. When there were about 15 of us they took us to the Marxist Center," the witness said.

The witness said he saw about 20 HVO soldiers on his arrival at the Marxist Center. He said he recognized Vlatko Kapetanovic, Ivica Keskic and Miroslav Fabulic. Djapic said the three men had been beaten.

"Kapetanovic could hardly walk. His breathing sounded like a rattle. His head was crooked and he did not react to our questions. He just wanted to be left alone. A few days later there was a bustle among the detainees. They said military policemen had come to take Vlatko away. I saw black uniforms and white belts. They took him away. This was the last time I saw him," the witness said.

The indictment alleges, among other things, that Osmic beat Vlatko Kapetanovic in a garage in Donjici village at the end of July 1993. The Prosecution contends that a few days later the indictee took Kapetanovic from the Marxist Center - Cloister, hit him and then loaded him into the trunk of a black Mercedes. Kapetanovic has been missing since then.

Djapic said he was transferred from the Marxist Center to the Gymnasium building in Bugojno. Seven days later he was taken to the "Vojin Paleksic" school building and then to Iskra stadium detention camp, where he stayed until March 19, 1994.

"Some detainees were taken to other locations to perform labour. For instance, I spent two months in Gornji Vakuf. I was used as human shield and I made dug outs. Other detainees were taken to BH Banka premises for questioning. They looked exhausted when they came back," he said.

The witness said he did not know indictee Osmic, adding that he did not see him during the course of 1993 and 1994.

The next hearing is due to take place on March 25, when the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina will examine two witnesses.