BiH WCS: Bastah et al: Statements Describing Rape and Abuse Read Into Evidence

2009-09-14, Sarajevo. The prosecutor read into evidence statements made by two witnesses, A6 and Muska Sestovic, following the opinion of the court expert psychiatrist Alma Bravo-Mehmedbasic, that the victims are not capable to testify in person due to the psychological trauma. The Witness A6 stated that she was raped more than 50 times during her two-month (June and July 1992) detention in the Sušica Detention Camp in the Vlasenica area, and that Goran Viscovic was among the people who raped her. A6 stated that she was forced to reciprocate or else she was beaten. Ms. Sestovic testified about the physical abuse of Muslims in Vlasenica in July 1992, whereas they were beaten and forced to crawl on the asphalt road. The statements were read over the objections of the defence counsel who argued that psychological state of the witness makes them suggestible and their testimony unreliable. Ms. Bravo-Mehmedbasic opinion was expressed on the basis of the available medical reports. The trial is due to continue on October 5. Predrag Bastah, 55, a.k.a. ‘Car’ was a member of the reserve police in Vlasenica; Goran Višković, 54, a.k.a. ‘Vjetar’, was a member of the Republika Srpska Army. The Prosecutor alleges that the two accused were involved in numerous beatings, forced disappearances and rapes of non-Serb population in Vlasenica Municipality from April to the end of September 1992.

2009-09-14, Sarajevo. The prosecutor read into evidence statements made by two witnesses, A6 and Muska Sestovic, following the opinion of the court expert psychiatrist, Alma Bravo-Mehmedbasic, that the victims are not capable to testify in person due to the psychological trauma. The Witness A6 stated that she was raped more than 50 times during her two-month (June and July 1992) detention in the Sušica Detention Camp in the Vlasenica area, and that Goran Viscovic was among the people who raped her. A6 stated that she was forced to reciprocate or else she was beaten. Ms. Sestovic testified about the physical abuse of Muslims in Vlasenica in July 1992, whereas they were beaten and forced to crawl on the asphalt road. The statements were read over the objections of the defence counsel who argued that psychological state of the witness makes them suggestible and their testimony unreliable. Ms. Bravo-Mehmedbasic opinion was expressed on the basis of the available medical reports. The trial is due to continue on October 5.

Predrag Bastah, 55, a.k.a. ‘Car’ was a member of the reserve police in Vlasenica; Goran Višković, 54, a.k.a. ‘Vjetar’, was a member of the Republika Srpska Army. The Prosecutor alleges that the two accused were involved in numerous beatings, forced disappearances and rapes of non-Serb population in Vlasenica Municipality from April to the end of September 1992.

Article (BIRN) | Case Information (BiH WCS) |