Franko Simatović u sudnici Tribunala

Franko Simatovic’s defense continued its case with the evidence of Rade Vujovic, former chief of the Serbian State Security Service’s Seventh Administration. Vujovic’s department was in charge of ‘using operational technology’ for the purpose of monitoring, surveillance and other intelligence activities. Simatovic is on trial with the former chief of the Serbian State Security Service Jovica Stanisic, for the crimes committed by the police and paramilitaries under their command in the wars in Croatia and BH.

The witness started out in the federal security service. In 1992, when the state collapsed, the federal security service ceased to exist. Vujovic contends that the Serbian State Security Service didn’t take over the federal service by force: the two services were ‘merged’ because it was ‘unnatural and wrong’ for two secret services to exist side by side in one country. Vujovic also claimed that nobody from the federal MUP was laid off. Everybody was assigned to new duties in the public and state security services in the Republic of Serbia.

In response to the questions asked by defense counsel Vladimir Petrovic, the witness described how his administration worked and about its interactions with the other organizational units in the service. The questions about particular events and documents were mostly dealt with in closed session. The Trial Chamber rejected Serbia’s request that Vujovic testify entirely in closed session, but allowed him not to speak publicly about the information pertaining to the agents who worked for the service and the locations used in its activities. The witness did say in open session that in the 1990’s the Serbian State Security Service ran surveillance centers in Pajzos near Ilok and on the Petrova Gora mountain as a part of the Operation Spider. The Anti-Terrorist Unit, also known as the Red Berets, provided security at those installations.

Describing Franko Simatovic’s involvement in the service, the witness said that after 1992 Simatovic served as advisor to the then chief Jovica Stanisic for intelligence-gathering matters. As the witness said, Simatovic was ‘bursting with energy’ and was ambitious about using new technologies in the intelligence work. According to the witness, Simatovic often visited the police technology fairs. The prosecution contends that Simatovic worked in the Second Administration which focused on intelligence work and that he was the commander of the Serbian State Security Service’s special unit, the Red Berets. Vujovic claims that the accused for all intents and purposes did not work in the Second Administration, which was headed by Dragan Filipovic.

At the end of the hearing, Stanisic’s defense counsel Wayne Jordash began cross-examining the witness. Jordash tried to prove that his client and the witness were never close. Vujovic confirmed this, saying he would see the accused only at meetings at work. They never met socially.

Rade Vujovic continues his evidence tomorrow morning.

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