Trial of Matuzović and Others: Indictment Suggests Aggression Against BiH Was Legal

The trial of nine defendants accused of war crimes in the Orašje area began with the reading of the indictment and opening statements by the State Prosecutor's Office and the Defense, BIRN reported, as carried by NAP.

Prosecutor Milanko Kajganić said that to prove the indictment, he will examine 142 witnesses and submit around 150 pieces of material evidence.

"The indictment consists of two parts. The first is crimes against humanity, and the second is crimes against prisoners of war. We will establish that the Serbian population in the Orašje area was the victim of a systematic attack, killings, expulsions, rapes, enforced disappearances, and other inhumane acts by the Croatian Defence Council (HVO)," Kajganić said.

Those charged for the crimes in Orašje are Đuro Matuzović, Ivo and Tado Oršolić, Marko Dominković, Joso Nedić, Marko Blažanović, Mato and Anto Živković, and Stjepo Đurić.

According to the indictment, they committed the crimes as members of the command structures of the HVO and police in Orašje, as well as members of the Military Police.

They are charged with persecuting the Serbian population through killings, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, and other inhumane acts of a similar nature.

Matuzović, the Živkovićs, and Đurić are also charged with, together with other known members of the HVO Military Police, participating in killings, torture, and inhumane treatment, as well as inflicting great suffering and injuries to the physical integrity and health of prisoners of war in a barn in Donja Mahala and in a camp at the Elementary School in Donja Mahala.

Kajganić earlier requested that the case of Mirko Jurić, also charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes against prisoners of war in Orašje, be joined with the "Matuzović and Others" case, which is why the indictment was consolidated today.

Vlado Adamović, lawyer for the first defendant Matuzović, stated in his opening remarks that the indictment was written by taking facts out of context and that it contains many inconsistencies, claiming that the Defense will prove this.

Krešimir Zubak, lawyer for the fourth defendant Marko Dominković, said that based on the indictment, one can conclude that the aggression against BiH was legal.

"The prosecutor repeatedly stated while reading the indictment that he will prove the conflict in Orašje was of an international character, which he will attempt to prove. So it turns out that the aggression against BiH was also legal," Zubak added.

The trial continues on September 6.