WITNESS TESTIFIED ABOUT BEATING OF SERB PRISONERS

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 15 /SRNA/ - At a hearing in the trial concerning crimes against Serb civilians in Visoko, witness Midhat Drugović stated that in 1992 the accused, Asim Hamzić, conducted interrogations of detained Serbs at the Ahmet Fetehagić Barracks, during which, according to what he had been told, Hamzić severely beat them.

Drugović said that he was the chief of security at the Municipal Headquarters of the Visoko Territorial Defense, and that after the operation on June 20, 1992, he was tasked with conducting interrogations, together with Hamzić, at the Ahmet Fetehagić Barracks, which served as a detention facility for individuals of Serb ethnicity. He added that both younger and older individuals, including women, were detained, and that none of the detainees had fired at members of the so-called Army of BiH. Drugović stated that he had agreed with Hamzić that he would remain in the barracks and conduct the interrogations in a professional manner, which the accused had promised to do. He stated that he later received reports at his command about the beating of detainees, and that Hamzić would strike someone during interrogations to obtain information, BIRN reports. He added that he had also heard that Hajrudin Halilović, known as Mrčo, beat detainees. According to him, the security of the detainees was supposed to be the responsibility of the warden, Zijad Kadrić, and the guards. Drugović said that he did not approve of these incidents and requested that Commander Kadir Jusić relieve him of his duties, which he held until July 10. Zijad Kadrić, Hajrudin Halilović, known as Mrčo, Asim Hamzić, Miralem Čengić, Samir Selimović, and Amir Murtić are accused of crimes committed against civilians at the Visoko Police Station, the Gračanica Territorial Defense, and in the detention facility – the camp at the Ahmet Fetahagić Barracks.