Trial for Crimes in Ljubuški Begins Next Week

The trial of seven defendants charged with crimes committed in the VIZ prison in Ljubuški will begin on October 27, decided at a status conference at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, BIRN reported, as carried by the Patria news agency.

Prosecutor Remzija Smailagić stated that she plans to hear 58 witnesses, five of whom are protected, and present around 250 pieces of material evidence.

Ivica Kraljević, Mate Jelčić, Slavko Skender, Stojan Odak, Vice Bebek, Vinko Radišić and Dragan Miloš are charged with participating in crimes committed in the VIZ prison in Ljubuški from late April 1993 to March 1994.

According to the indictment, Kraljević, Jelčić and Skender are former directors of VIZ in Ljubuški, while Odak, Bebek, Radišić and Miloš are former members of the Military Police of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and prison guards. All together are charged with a joint criminal enterprise aimed at implementing a system of detention and abuse.

According to the BiH Prosecutor's Office, around 200 persons of Bosniak ethnicity, including women and children, were detained in the VIZ facility, held in inhumane conditions, tortured, abused, beaten and robbed.

Nedjeljko Matić was also charged in this case, but his proceedings have been separated from the others, Patria reports.