Prosecution again "activates" protected witness: Arifović and others accused of murders of unidentified Serbs!?

Before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina today, the main trial began with the reading of the indictment and the presentation of defense statements for the accused Izet Arifović, Suad Smajlović, and Amir Salihović, who are charged with crimes against the Serbian population, Patria reports.

Namely, the first accused, Arifović, is charged with killing an unidentified member of the Army of Republika Srpska on July 12, 1992, in the village of Zalazje near Srebrenica. Furthermore, the indictment states that Arifović took two civilians of Serbian nationality from the police station, after which he took an automatic rifle and fired shots from a firearm at close range, killing two civilians. After their bodies were loaded onto a truck, the suspect Suad Smajlović, noticing that one of the victims showed signs of life, fired a burst, thus killing the two captured civilians.

However, these civilians are also unidentified.

Izet Arifović is also suspected of committing the murder of a civilian of Serbian nationality, Živan Prodanović, on June 21, 1992, in the place of Ratkovići. Prodanović had previously surrendered his weapon and was sitting with his hands tied, after which the suspect approached him, ordered him to stand up, and killed him by firing a firearm.

Smajlović is charged with, on July 12, 1992, firing a burst from a firearm at the bodies of killed civilians of Serbian nationality, as well as at living prisoners, on the truck bed where the bodies were located, which desecrated the bodies.

Amir Salihović is charged with the unlawful and violent deprivation of liberty of nine persons of Serbian nationality.

Arifović's attorney, Lejla Čović, stated that this case resembles the one against Naser Orić, because the entire indictment is based on the testimony of protected witness O2.

- Out of a total of 37 witnesses, only one, this O2, mentions Arifović's name. We will destroy the credibility of this protected witness and prove the innocence of my client – Čović emphasized.

Mirna Delalić, attorney for the second accused, Smajlović, commented on the fact that the case refers to unidentified civilians and persons, and that accordingly, there are insufficient legal elements for a criminal offense.

Sabina Mehić, attorney for Amir Salihović, also pointed out that out of 37 witnesses, none except protected witness O2 mention her client.

However, O2 in his testimony does not mention any deprivation of liberty in connection with my client – Mehić emphasized.

The continuation of the trial will resume on June 27, when protected witness O2 will give his testimony.