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Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
The Hague, 25 March 2003
J.L/P.I.S./741e
JANKO BOBETKO CASE:
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ORDERED TO SERVE INDICTMENT
On 24 March 2003, Judge Carmel Agius lifted the confidentiality of an Order issued on 19 March 2003 to the authorities of the Republic of Croatia directing that the Indictment against Janko Bobetko be served either on the Accused himself, or a counsel of his choosing. Judge Agius further ordered that Croatia confirm the service of the Indictment within 15 days of the issuance of
the Decision.
Judge Agius also ordered that the warrants of arrest and orders for surrender issued by the Tribunal on 17 and 20 September be suspended immediately upon service of the Indictment, and that the Croatian authorities provide to the Registrar of the Tribunal an updated medical report on the Accused’s health on a monthly basis.
This followed Judge Agius’ Decision on 19 March 2003 on the "Motion of the Prosecutor to Schedule a Fitness Hearing and to Take Related Measures", in which Judge Agius had considered that a medical report filed by experts appointed by the Registrar "clearly shows that the Accused is unfit to travel and to stand trial before this Tribunal" and that "the only matter which
is relevant as to the further conduct of the case is to establish a monthly monitoring mechanism in order to assess the medical condition of the Accused and to report on his state of health to the relevant Tribunal authorities".
Furthermore Judge Agius considered that as the Accused was unfit to travel, "it is justified to suspend the warrants for the Accused’s arrest and the orders for surrender, pending a change in the Accused’s state of health that would allow him to stand trial".
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The relevant documents will be posted in English and French on the Tribunal’s web site at: www.un.org/icty
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