War Crimes Trial Uncovers Allegations Against Former Commander Kajkut

A war crimes trial is ongoing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on crimes committed in the Kotor-Varoš area. Danko Kajkut faces charges for crimes against humanity, including detention, torture, murder, and rape. He is accused of these acts in his capacity as commander of the First Platoon of the Special Police Unit from Banjaluka.

Witness Darko Bosančić, a former police officer, denied several key parts of his earlier statements to investigators during his testimony. He confirmed that Danko Kajkut was his direct superior in a special police unit from Banjaluka. Bosančić stated that Kajkut enforced strict discipline and punished those who disobeyed. He also mentioned other unit commanders, including Ljuban Ećim, Zdravko Samardžija, Nenad Kajkut, and Nenad Stevandić.

Bosančić recounted the unit's deployment to Kotor-Varoš. He said they entered the town peacefully to take control of the police station and other important locations. On the first day, they detained people of Croat, Bosniak, and Serb nationalities to seize weapons. Bosančić observed detainees with injuries from beatings. Initially, he denied telling investigators that Kajkut beat detainees or led a young man tied by a rope around his neck. However, prosecutor Dževad Muratbegović presented Bosančić’s prior statements and a video showing Kajkut hitting someone. Bosančić admitted he might not have fully read his initial statement. He later clarified that he only saw a rope around the young man’s neck, not Kajkut leading him.

Another witness, Željko Tešić, a doctor, testified about witnessing civilians being beaten. He described watching from a window as a group of civilians was brought to the Health Center. He saw them being beaten by special forces, and one man was hit so severely that Tešić feared he would not get up. Tešić identified Danko Kajkut as the commander of these special forces at the Health Center, noting that Kajkut spoke loudly and other police officers feared him.

The defense did not question the witnesses. The trial is scheduled to resume on September 21.