Trial of Naser Orić Continues: New Witnesses for the BiH Prosecution

Today, the trial of Naser Orić and Sabahudin Muhić before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue with the presentation of new witnesses from the BiH Prosecutor's Office. We recall that at the last hearing held on June 28, the witness was supposed to be Ibran Mustafić, but a scandal of sorts occurred in the courtroom, and Mustafić was removed from the courtroom by a decision of the Trial Chamber presided over by Judge Šaban Maksumić, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

Even before the witness entered the courtroom, the defense warned that they had documentation that witness Mustafić is a 100% disabled person diagnosed with a permanent personality disorder.

However, despite the warnings, the Trial Chamber requested that the witness proceed to testify, but that this was a disordered personality became evident at the very beginning while Mustafić was giving his personal information. The Prosecutor's Office failed to ask this witness more than one question, and Mustafić demonstrated what the defense had claimed—that he was not fit to testify and that this was a sick person.

He accused the Court of not allowing him to express himself, and the Trial Chamber then interrupted the trial and went on a break. That he has a personality disorder is evidenced by Mustafić's statements that today is a blessed day for him, that he is ready to face criminal liability, etc.

Prosecutor Miroslav Janjić said that he had spoken with Mustafić twice and that the situation was not like this, and that a decision regarding this witness would be made in the coming days.

The Trial Chamber explained the procedural options: if the Prosecutor's Office, by the end of the evidentiary proceedings, still requests Mustafić's testimony, it will first have to obtain a medical expert's finding, after which the Court will make a final decision.