Witness in Dreković case visited Health Center to 'refresh memory' after giving statement to investigators

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Witness for the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stanimir Elez, testified at the trial of Ramiz Dreković about his knowledge and events from May and June 1995 in Kalinovik. During that period, he was a general practitioner and worked at the Kalinovik Health Center. As he himself stated, he also stayed on the front line with the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), under the order of the head of VRS Sanitary Services (whose name he could not recall).

He could not state which unit he was with or assisted, but he did recall events from June 3, 1995. He spoke about six children being wounded – graduating elementary school students. One of them, Stanislava Koprivica, died. He spoke about three shells falling on Kalinovik that day.

"After that June 3rd, almost everyone left Kalinovik. Only I and a few nurses remained," said Elez.

The witness stated that he heard that the victims had gone to get their school diplomas, and when asked by the defense what he would say if they claimed the children received their diplomas on June 14th, Elez said he would say that someone had lied to him in that case.

Interestingly, this witness came to court with a folder, and by his own admission, after giving his statement at the BiH Embassy in Belgrade, he came to Kalinovik and took documents from the Health Center to "refresh his memory." Because of this, the defense for Dreković requested that the witness's testimony be stopped, but the Trial Chamber, presided over by Staniša Gluhajić, rejected this possibility.

Otherwise, witness Elez now works in New Belgrade, where he lives.

The defense again drew attention to the fact that they were not allowed access to archives and documentation, placing them at a disadvantage and raising the question of why the court does not allow access to documentation.

To the defense attorney Kadrija Kolić, the witness confirmed that there was a helipad behind the school where VRS helicopters landed, and that there were soldiers and various units in Kalinovik, but he could not recall their names.

He also confirmed that he provided assistance to six members of the Krajina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska who were wounded by an anti-personnel mine, but he could not confirm the lawyer's claims that the mine was placed by members of the Army of Republika Srpska.

Lawyer Mirsad Crnovršanin asked the witness about Tošović's wounding, and Elez said he did not remember who "those who brought him" were.

Regarding shelling, Elez emphasized that it occurred in the spring of 1995, once or twice every five to six days.

The next hearing in this case is on December 3, 2019.