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REGISTRY
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 25 July 2001
J.L./P.I.S./605e
Voluntary Surrender of Rahim Ademi to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia welcomes the voluntary surrender of Rahim Ademi on Wednesday 25 July 2001.
Following his surrender, Rahim Ademi was transferred to the Detention Unit of the ICTY later the same day.
The initial appearance of Rahim Ademi is scheduled to take place on Thursday 26 July in Courtroom 1 at 2.30 p.m. with Judge Rodrigues presiding.
BACKGROUND ON THE INDICTMENT, THE ACCUSED AND THE CHARGES
The indictment, confirmed on 8 June 2001, remained under seal until the detention of Rahim Ademi following his voluntary surrender on 25 July 2001.
According to the indictment, on 9 September 1993, Croatian forces comprising Croatian Army (HV) units from the Gospi} Operational Zone commenced an attack on the Medak Pocket within the self-proclaimed “Republika Srpska Krajina” that lasted until 17 September 1993.
It is alleged that, during the Croatian military operation in the Medak Pocket at least 38 local Serb civilians were unlawfully killed and others sustained serious injury. Many of the killed and wounded civilians were women and elderly people. Croatian forces also killed at least two Serb soldiers who had been captured and/or wounded. In addition, approximately 164 homes and 148 barns and outbuildings, being a majority of the buildings in the villages within the Medak Pocket, were destroyed, mostly by fire and explosives.
During the above period, it is further alleged that property belonging to Serb civilians was plundered by Croatian forces or by persons in civilian clothes under the supervision of the Croatian forces. The property that was not plundered was burned or otherwise destroyed, farm machinery was riddled with bullets, farm animals were killed and wells were polluted.
The indictment states that, as a result of these widespread and systematic unlawful acts during the Croatian military operation, the Medak Pocket became totally uninhabitable.
Major-General Rahim Ademi is charged as the Acting Commander of the Gospi} Military District during the Medak Pocket military operation. According to the indictment, the accused was promoted to the rank of Major-General on 23 September 1995 and became Assistant to the Chief of the HV Inspectorate on 11 February 1999.
Charges
The indictment charges the accused on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute of the Tribunal) and, or alternatively, superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3)) with:
• Crimes against humanity (Article 5 – persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds; murder)
• Violations of the laws and customs of war (Article 3 – murder; plunder of public or private property; wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages).
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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