Witness Spahić: Inspector Karišik said he knew everything, prosecutor's recusal requested

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The trial in the case of Džemal Hadžić and others continued today at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the testimony of Ahmed Spahić, concerning the attack on Čemerno, where four VRS howitzers were located, and the Territorial Defense carried out an attack to neutralize the howitzers.

Spahić had protection measures, but today he requested his identity be revealed "because he is not afraid of anyone." This prosecution witness stirred up 'passions' in the courtroom again with his testimony today, stating that SIPA inspector Karišik told him during his interrogation that "they know everything, and all you have to do is sign."

The witness stated that three names were emphasized to him: "Teufik (Tufo), Mirsad Bešlija, and Enes Durak."

"I don't know Tufo at all, I was told he is big. I have never seen the man nor do I know him to this day," Spahić said.

All defense teams objected to the legality of the witness's hearing, and lawyer Ifet Feraget requested the recusal of prosecutor Vladimir Simović, given that none of the 120 witnesses were recorded, even though the BiH Prosecutor's Office is the best equipped.

Prosecutor Simović stated that the courtroom is often occupied, to which Feraget replied, "it's not possible that this was the case all 120 times."

Spahić told prosecutor Simović that before entering the courtroom, he repeated to him that what the prosecutor was reading were not his words, but those written by Milenko Karišik, which he only signed.
Responding to the defense's questions, the witness stated that he was told he could be indicted if he did not cooperate with the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

"They cross-examined me for two hours. When you, prosecutor, ask me a question, I start to answer, and the inspector interrupts me. I signed that record because I believed in the institutions and the people. Here today, I responsibly claim that I did not say some things from that statement, nor do I know them," Spahić said.

Spahić spoke about his role in the Čemerno operation, stating that on June 9, 1992, soldiers from Breza and Kakanj arrived in the village of Korita near the school, who were supposed to neutralize the howitzers, as Enver Čutura told him.

"There were about 40 to 50 soldiers. I didn't know anyone. In front of the school, I saw volunteers from Korita. Present were Meho Bešlija, Mensud Bešlija, Miralem Bešlija, witness F, and witnesses D and E, Velimir Vidaković, Izet Bešlija, Ekrem Bešlija, Zoran Barić, Azmir Halilović, Miko Tabaković, Enes Durak with the reserve police force," Spahić said.

He denied that anyone issued orders to them in front of the school and said that he took a Heckler from Hamdija Spahić, who was off duty that day, and he also went as security for one group to Čemerno. According to Spahić, in that group, besides him, were Mirsad Bešlija, Halim Bešlija, and protected witnesses E and F.

"Of everyone in the group, only I was armed," Spahić said.

He stated that upon arrival at Čemerno, they split into three groups, and only when dawn broke did he see the plateau where the howitzers were located.

"There was gunfire from all sides. When it quieted down, we moved through the woods above the cemetery. Then we met two soldiers, one was wounded, the other was asking for help to evacuate the wounded and the dead. He said there were more. Upon arriving in front of the barn, this soldier started to go inside, but a detonation was heard. Inside the barn, there was another dead soldier from Kakanj," Spahić recounted, noting that he fled under the barn out of fear.

"Then I saw one dead Serbian soldier," Spahić emphasized.

The prosecutor stated that the witness mentioned seven dead soldiers three times in his statement, but the witness reiterated that he did not say that, but rather inspector Karišik did.

The witness also recounted that "up at Damjanović's house, at the end, I saw Enes Durak and Velo Vidaković, who was the last one, and gunfire was heard from the house, and he was killed on the spot."

"The soldiers who were there opened fire on the house, and Enes and I went to pull Velo out."

Regarding the number of dead, Spahić said he heard it on Serbian television in the following days and that he did not witness the death of any civilians.

Spahić also stated that he does not know Ganić and had not heard of that name until inspector Karišik mentioned it. Spahić said that Čemerno belonged to the TO Ilijaš.
We remind you that the indictment against Ganić relates to command responsibility for war crimes against victims of Serbian nationality in the mentioned area and was filed later than the indictment against the 11 accused: Džemal Hadžić, Teufik Turudić, Džemal Smolo, Senad Sikira, Benjamin Sikira, Haris Sikira, Enes Durak, Mirsad Bešlija, Nusret Bešlija, Mirzet Bešlija, and Hamdija Spahić.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office accuses former members of the Territorial Defense (TO) and active and reserve police force of participating in a joint criminal enterprise in Čemerno in June 1992.
The continuation of the trial is scheduled for May 30.