The Appeals Chamber Judgement in the case of Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović is scheduled to be rendered on Tuesday, 15 December at 3:00 p.m. in Courtroom I.
Jovica Stanišić, former Chief of the Serbian State Security Service, and Franko Simatović, former Serbian State Security Service official, were charged as participants in a joint criminal enterprise aimed at the forcible and permanent removal of non-Serbs from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Trial Chamber found that Stanišić and Simatović could not be held responsible for the crimes alleged in the indictment and acquitted them.
Journalists wishing to cover the hearing should register here by Monday, 14 December, 12:00 pm. The registration should contain the name of the media outlet as well as full name, passport number and contact details of all journalists and AV technicians coming to the Tribunal.
Members of the public wishing to attend the hearing are requested to send an email to kralt.icty [at] un.org for more information on the procedure to be followed and the available space.
Case Background
The initial indictment against Stanišić and Simatović was confirmed on 1 May 2003. Simatović was transferred to the ICTY's custody on 30 May 2003, and Stanišić on 11 June 2003.
Simatović and Stanišić pleaded not guilty to all charges at their initial appearances which were held on 2 June 2003 and 13 June 2003, respectively.
The trial started on 28 April 2008. However, due to the ill-health of Jovica Stanišić, its commencement was postponed on a number of occasions, and it re-started on 9 June 2009. The Prosecution rested its case on 5 April 2011 after presenting the evidence of 97 witnesses. The Defence case commenced on 15 June 2011 and was officially closed on 17 September 2012. Stanišić’s Defence presented the evidence of 21 witnesses while 15 testified on behalf of Simatović. Almost 5,000 exhibits were admitted into evidence. The closing arguments were held from 29 to 31 January 2013. The Trial Chamber issued its judgment on 30 May 2013.
Since its establishment, the Tribunal has indicted 161 persons for serious violations of humanitarian law committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. Proceedings against 147 accused individuals have been concluded. Proceedings are currently ongoing for 14 accused.
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The Judgement will be broadcast live on the Tribunal’s website
For further information please call the Media Office at +31 (70) 512-8752, or -5343, or -5356.