Prosecution seeks at least ten years for Jovan Popović

The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in its closing argument, requested that Jovan Popović be sentenced to at least ten years in prison for crimes committed in Višegrad.

Prosecutor Seid Marušić, in his closing argument, assessed that sufficient evidence had been presented on the basis of which the Trial Chamber could convict Popović.

According to his words, witnesses confirmed that Popović was part of a group of soldiers who came to Rodića Brdo in mid-June 1992 and took several civilians to the Višegrad police station, after whom all trace has since been lost. He stated that it was proven that the accused also participated in looting in Rodića Brdo and other villages.

Marušić said that the Prosecutor's Office proved that at the time when the accused Popović committed these acts, systematic attacks were ongoing in the Višegrad area with the aim of removing the non-Serb population.

He said that the Chamber has no reason to doubt the witnesses' testimonies, as they mostly coincided. Certain differences, as he noted, indicate that the witnesses did not coordinate what they would say at the trial.

Marušić recalled the testimony of witness Jusuf Korać, who recounted how, when the army entered the village and began searching for men, he hid in the attic of his house. He stated that he peered between the roof tiles and saw Jovan Popović taking away his half-brother Rešad Mucovski.

Among others, the prosecutor also recalled the testimony of witness S-4, who recounted how soldiers, including Jovan Popović, came to her house and took her father away. The witness also said that she heard that Popović was present at all the abductions after which he looted houses.

Marušić noted that protected witness S-7 recounted that she heard from her father about the abduction of Fadil Zukić, whose car she later saw in front of the accused's house.

Prosecutor Marušić said that Jovan Popović had a choice to protect his neighbors in Rodića Brdo and not participate in the orders of Milan Lukić, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Hague Tribunal for crimes committed in Višegrad, BIRN reported, Patria reports.

The defense will present its closing argument on April 13.