| Press Advisory |
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 5 September 2007
MH/MOW/PA316e
Trial Chamber in Rasim Delić case to hold a hearing in Sarajevo
The Tribunal’s Trial Chamber I sitting in the case of Rasim Delić, former commander of the Main Staff of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, is scheduled to hold an evidentiary hearing in Sarajevo beginning on Friday, 7 September. The hearing, to last for up to three days, will take place at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The hearing is the first conducted by a Tribunal Chamber away from its seat in The Hague, Netherlands. It is being held at the request of the Prosecution, with the Defence’s consent, in accordance to the ICTY’s Rules of procedure and evidence. The proceedings will involve witness testimony Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad after the Trial Chamber granted Prosecution’s request to hold the hearing in Sarajevo due to the specific circumstances of that witness. The hearing will form an integral part of the trial in the case of Rasim Delić. Both Parties, as well as the accused, will be present.
It is to be underlined that the hearing will be conducted entirely under the authority of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
The proceedings will be open to the public, subject to the possibility of closed sessions. The Trial Chamber is scheduled to sit on each day – Friday 7 September, Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9 September – according to the following schedule:
09.30 – 10.45 Hearing
10.45 – 11.15 Recess
11.15 – 12.30 Hearing
12.30 – 13.00 Recess
13.00 – 14.15 Hearing
The hearing may, however, adjourn earlier and therefore will not necessarily continue throughout all three days as scheduled.
The Tribunal acknowledges the hospitality of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in allowing the ICTY Trial Chamber to use its premises on this occasion. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has provided assistance in a number of important support functions necessary for the hearing.
Rasim Delić is charged on the basis of command responsibility for the murder, cruel treatment and rape of captured Croat and Serb soldiers and civilians during the 1992-1995 Bosnian conflict. His trial started on 9 July 2007.
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Please note that the evidentiary hearing in Sarajevo will not be broadcast on the Tribunal’s website.
Queries concerning physical access to the hearing and requests for AV materials should be addressed to the Public Information Office of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina at tel. +387-33-707164, +387-33-707165 or +387-61-475204.
All other press queries should be directed to the ICTY Media Office
at tel. +31-70-512-5343 or +31-70-512-5356
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
For more information, please contact our Media Office in The Hague
Tel.: +31-70-512-8752; 512-5343; 512-5356 Fax: +31-70-512-5355 - Email: press [at] icty.org ()