Witness at trial for crimes in Kotor-Varoš mentioned being questioned by Nenad Stevandić

(Patria) - At the trial for crimes in the Kotor-Varoš area, a witness for the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that the accused Zdravko Samardžija briefly questioned him after his arrest in the summer of 1992.

Protected witness S-19 said that on June 11, 1992, special forces, as he heard, and two buses of "Vrbaške risove" (Vrbas Eagles) arrived in Kotor-Varoš. After some time, he was arrested, writes Detektor.

- Two special forces members came to the house and took me. Later I heard one of them was named Mladen Milić - said S-19.

He recounted how he was taken to the Police Station with several neighbors and that Milić questioned him along with another person. The witness said that he was also questioned by someone they called Doctor, and later learned his name was Nenad Stevandić.

The conversation with him, as he stated, was brief, as they soon called him to leave. He stated that he was asked who he was and where he was from, and that they talked about a common teacher, and that the conversation was correct.

- I can't say anything about him personally - said the witness, adding that Stevandić also asked him about a head injury he sustained in the hallway from a policeman. S-19 said that Zdravko Samardžija questioned him and others at the end of the day, who introduced himself and told him to cooperate with an inspector. That questioning was also brief.

- He was completely correct towards me - stated the witness, adding that he did not see Samardžija after that.
During his stay at the police station, as he recounted, he was taken out to clean a room where there was dried, as well as fresh blood.

He said that others were taken out and beaten.

The witness said that he was transferred to the elementary school hall with his neighbors and a group of Croats who were brought in, where he was held for 45 days. He stated that he was beaten for the first 15 days.

- I was beaten badly several times, in the hall or they would take me out - recalled S-19.

He said that Milić was present in the hall when they were beaten on one occasion.

The witness stated that he left prison with four broken ribs. As he said, some individuals of Serb nationality who knew him exerted pressure for him to be released. In response to questions from defense attorney Slobodan Perić, the witness said that he did not know Samardžija from before.

The defense attorney noted that the witness did not state in his statement during the investigation that Samardžija questioned him, but rather that he stated it was known to him that Captain Samardžija conducted interrogations. The witness maintained his claim that Samardžija questioned him, stating that it lasted five minutes. The defense attorney objected to the testimony, stating that the witness expanded his statement after learning who he was testifying against.

Samardžija is accused of being part of a joint criminal enterprise, as a member of the command of the Special Police Unit of the Banja Luka Security Services Center, whose goal was the permanent removal of Bosniak and Croat populations from the Kotor-Varoš area.

The continuation of the trial is scheduled for February 16.