Koštana Hospital

ICTY

Starting in April 1993, the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) attempted to force the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) to leave the municipality of Stolac. On April 19, 1993, the HVO disarmed and detained 183 ARBiH soldiers in the barracks in Gubavica. (para. 1896. Prlić et al., vol. II, p. 512.)

In early August 1993, a second wave of women, children, and elderly people from Stolac Municipality arrived at a school in Aladinići/Crnići from other HVO detention centres, including the TGA Factory, the Koštana Hospital, and the town of Stolac. (para. 1980. Prlić et al., vol. II, p. 530.)

In May 1993, the HVO requisitioned Koštana Hospital and transferred the patients from the hospital in military trucks to the barracks in Grabovina, near Čapljina. The patients were detained there without medical care. (para. 2008. Prlić et al., volume II, p. 536.)

Bosniaks arrested by the HVO in the municipality of Stolac were detained in the Koštana Hospital between May and October 1993. Among them were Bosniak members of the HVO and the ARBiH, as well as civilian men. (para. 2012. Prlić et al., volume II, pp. 537-538.)

Between June and October 1993, the HVO took detainees from the Koštana Hospital to other HVO detention centres, such as prisons in Gabela and Dretelj. (para. 2012. Prlić et al., volume II, pp. 537-538.)

In early August 1993, two detainees in the Koštana Hospital died of injuries after being beaten. One detainee died in Dretelj from injuries inflicted on him in the hospital. (paras. 2015-2016. Prlić et al., volume II, pp. 538-539.)

At the end of September, another detainee died from injuries sustained as a result of a beating. Another, who was also beaten in the hospital, was soon transferred to the prison in Gabela where he died. (paras. 2017-2018. Prlić et al., volume II, pp. 539-540.)

While in the hospital, numerous detainees were subjected to beatings, including with sticks, rifle butts, belts, chair legs, fists, and rubber batons. They also faced other abuses including electric shocks. (paras. 2017., 2020-2032. Prlić et al., volume II, pp. 539, 540-543.)

Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina

During July and August 1993, a large number of Bosniak men were arrested by members of the HVO and imprisoned in the Koštana Hospital. Some were transferred to the Dretelj and Gabela camps. (paras. 243., 251., 258. Mile Pažin and Vide Krešić, pp. 64, 66-68.)

Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosniak population which could not move freely in the area of the municipality of Stolac and hid in houses, was forcibly taken from their homes and placed in the Koštana Hospital, and later in Dretelj near Čapljina. (M.R. – judgment of the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH, p. 12.)

The Koštana Hospital was turned into a prison, the management of which was the responsibility of the HVO. Bosniak civilians were detained there. (M.R. – judgment of the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH, p. 13.)

In late July and early August 1993, HVO members physically abused and beat detainees in the Koštana Hospital. (M.R. – verdict of the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, pp. 3-4, 15-17, 23-27, 29-30.)

Cantonal Court in Mostar

The Bosniak population, which could not move freely in the area of the municipality of Stolac and hid in houses, was forcibly taken from their homes and placed in the Koštana Hospital, and later in Dretelj near Čapljina. (Draženko Vidić, p. 25.), (Drago Palameta, p. 9-10.)

In late July and early August 1993, HVO members physically abused and beat detainees in the Koštana Hospital. (Draženko Vidić, pp. 1-3, 7-10, 16.), (P. M. and A. K., pp. 4-9, 19-23, 27-31.)

Some of the detainees in the Koštana Hospital were tortured with electricity. (P. M. and A. K., pp. 5, 18-19, 26.)

At the end of September 1993, one of the detainees, under threat to his life, was taken out of the Koštana Hospital to look for those who were hiding in the forest. (Drago Palameta, p. 3, 14-15.)

The mistreatment of detainees in the Koštana Hospital continued in late September and early October 1993. (Niko Obradović, pp. 1-2, 11-13.)