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Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
CC/PIU/320-E
The Hague, 29 May 1998
INITIAL APPEARANCE OF MILOJICA KOS
SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY 2 JUNE 1998 AT 5 P.M.
Accused Milojica KOS - who was detained on 28 May 1998 by members of the S-For forces, transferred to the ICTY and taken into custody at the ICTY’s Detention Unit – will appear before a Trial Chamber in order to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty on each of the counts he is charged with in the indictment issued against him.
This initial appearance hearing will be held on Tuesday, 2 June 1998 at 5 p.m. before Judge Claude Jorda in Courtroom II.
This hearing is open to both the public and the media.
Background on the indictment
Milojica KOS is one of eight accused named in the "Omarska" indictment issued by the ICTY on 13 February 1995 with regard to atrocities allegedly committed between May and August 1992 against Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Croat civilians from the Prijedor district (northwestern Bosnia) held at the Omarska camp, a makeshift detention facility where "the Serb forces killed, raped,
assaulted, beat and otherwise mistreated the prisoners".
Background on the accused
According to the indictment, Milojica KOS a/k/a/Krle was a shift commander who supervised one of the three shifts of guards that operated the camp.
Background on the charges
Milojica KOS is indicted in his alleged capacity as superior to all the camp personel, second only to the camp commander and his deputies. He knew or had reason to know that persons in positions of subordinate authority to him "regularly and openly killed, raped, tortured, beat and otherwise subjected prisoners to conditions of constant humiliation, degradation, and fear of
death".
Milojica KOS is allegedly criminally responsible for the alleged criminal conduct of his subordinates. He is charged with 4 counts of Crimes against humanity, 3 Counts of Violations of the Laws or Customs of War, and 4 counts of Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
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