The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has confirmed the indictment against Veljko Brajić, Slobodan Taranjec, Ranko Kaurin, Branko Dženopoljec and Draško Topić for the crimes committed in 1992 in Briševo near Prijedor, it was said at the hearing where the determination of prohibition measures was discussed.
Prosecutor Izet Odobasic said that he believes that there are grounds for suspicion for the imposition of prohibition measures since the indictment has been confirmed, and that there are circumstances that indicate the danger of escape and obstruction of the criminal proceedings by influencing witnesses and accomplices.
“The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided to propose milder measures to ensure their presence at the Court and the unhindered conduct of the criminal proceedings,” said Odobasic.
For Brajić, the prosecutor said that he holds the citizenship of Serbia, from where he receives his pension, that members of his immediate family are abroad, and for Topić that he owns real estate in Slovenia, and that they could leave the country, so he proposed confiscating their travel documents.
Odobasic noted that criminal proceedings are already underway against Taranjec, which is why a measure of prohibition against leaving residence was proposed. He added that the accused “tends to influence protected witnesses”, and that he has already done so in the case in which he is being tried. For the accused Kaurin and Dženopoljec, he said that they did not cooperate during the investigation.
As previously announced by the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the five of them are accused of having planned and participated in an armed artillery and infantry attack on the undefended village of Briševo, inhabited mostly by civilians of Croatian nationality, and surrounding towns near Prijedor at the end of July 1992. On that occasion, 61 victims were killed in just a few hours, among whom the youngest was a 16-year-old boy, and the oldest victim was 81 years old, as well as one minor victim of Bosniak nationality. The indictment was returned twice to the Prosecutor’s Office for revision.
All defenses objected to the Prosecution’s proposed measures, and during the presentation disputed the well-founded suspicion.
Brajić’s defense attorney, Siniša Dakić, said that he does not know on what evidence the indictment was confirmed, since Branko Basara issued the order for the attack on Briševo, for which he is being tried in Serbia, and that Brajić was his deputy. He said that his client does not have a passport, stating that he was interrogated three months ago at the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, since when he knew what he was charged with.
Dragan Međović, Taranjec’s defense attorney, said that his client is old and in poor health, and that he has not missed any of the hearings where he is being tried for crimes committed in the Home in Miska Glava and at the stadium in Ljubija.
Taranjac said that he often travels to Serbia and Montenegro, where he works, and that a travel ban would affect his livelihood.
Savan Zec, the defense attorney for the accused Kaurin, stated that his client does not have a passport or driver’s license, and that he is a pensioner related to the place where he lives. He also said that his client was first heard as a witness, and only then as an accused.
The defense of Dženopoljec stated that he was an elderly man, who did not have the means to respond to the Prosecution’s summons when the summons was sent to him, and that he informed the prosecutor about this by phone. His defense attorney Željko Gnjatović said that he brought him to the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning the second time.
Topic’s defense attorney, Saša Dakić, stated that his client does not own any real estate in Slovenia, and that he is engaged in agriculture, from which he supports his family. He stated that Topić was available during the investigation and responded to all calls.
The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina will make a decision on the proposed measures within the legal term, reports Detektor.
