Jelena Rašić trial to begin on 23 January 2012

(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document.)

Jelena Rašić

The trial of Jelena Rašić, a member of Milan Lukić’s Defence team charged with contempt of the Tribunal, has been scheduled to commence on Monday 23 January 2012 at 9:00 in Courtroom I.

Rašić is accused of having knowingly and willingly interfered with the Tribunal’s administration of justice by obtaining in October 2008 a false witness statement from Zuhdija Tabaković from Višegrad in exchange for €1,000 in cash.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that Rašić approached Tabaković with a request to sign a pre-written statement even though he did not witness the events nor had any knowledge of the events described in the statement. It is alleged that once Tabaković signed the statement and the signature was certified at the Novi Grad Municipality building in Sarajevo, Rašić gave Tabaković an envelope containing 1,000 euros, stating he would be paid more money once he testified. The statement was then submitted to the Chamber as evidence in November 2008 and was provided to the Office of the Prosecutor in full in January 2009.

During the same meeting, it is alleged that Rašić presented Tabaković with two other pre-written statements asking him to find two other men to sign the false statements and testify in return for a payment of 1,000 Euros.  The indictment alleges that Tabaković found two men willing to sign and testify to the false statements. It is alleged that on 23 October 2008, Rašić met the two men and accompanied them to the Novi Grad Municipality building where she completed the statements. According to the indictment, once their signatures were certified, the two men were given envelopes containing money by an associate of Rašić.

Zuhdija Tabaković was convicted of contempt of the Tribunal on 15 March 2010 and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

The indictment against Rašić was filed confidentially on 9 July 2010 and made public on 22 September 2010.

Rašić was transferred to the seat of the Tribunal on 20 September 2010 and at her initial appearance on 22 September 2010, pleaded not guilty to all five counts of contempt. Rašić was granted provisional release on 12 November 2010 pending the start of trial.

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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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