| Press Release |
CHAMBERS
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 7 May 2003
JL/P.I.S./751-e
Momir Nikolic Pleads Guilty to Persecutions as a Crime Against Humanity
On 7 May 2003, Trial Chamber I (Judge Liu, presiding, Judge Vassylenko and Judge Argibay) held a hearing to consider a "Joint Motion for Consideration of Amended Plea Agreement Between Momir Nikolic and the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP)".
The Motion reflected a negotiated Plea Agreement whereby the Accused would agree to plead guilty to Count 5 of the Indictment, persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds as a crime against humanity. In exchange for Momir Nikolic’s guilty plea and his "complete cooperation with the OTP" as set forth in the Agreement, the OTP agreed to the following:
"That the Prosecutor will recommend to the Trial Chamber that they impose a sentence within the range of 15 to 20 years and that the Accused be given credit for the time he has served in ICTY custody. The Defence will recommend a sentence of 10 years. That, at the time of the acceptance of the plea by the Trial Chamber, the Prosecutor will move to dismiss without prejudice to either party the remaining charges against Momir Nikolic".
The Trial Chamber stated that it was satisfied that the Plea Agreement met the requirements of Rule 62 bis of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, and as a result made a finding of guilt and entered a conviction on Count 5 of the Indictment.
A time and date for the Sentencing Hearing will be set in due course.
The full text of the Plea Agreement is available on the Tribunal’s website at un.org/icty
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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