| Press Release |
REGISTRY
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 12 April 2002
JL/P.I.S./669e
Vladimir Santic transferred to Spain to serve the remainder of his prison sentence
On 11 April 2002, Vladimir Santic was transferred to Spain to serve the remainder of his sentence as handed down by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Spain became the seventh United Nations Member State to enter into an Enforcement of Sentences Agreement with the Tribunal on 28 March 2000. The other countries are Italy (signed on 6 February 1997), Finland (7 May 1997), Norway (24 April 1998), Sweden (23 February 1999), Austria (23 July 1999) and France (25 February 2000).
Vladimir Santic is the third person convicted by the ICTY to be sent to Spain after Stevan Todorovic (see Press Release 648e) and Drago Josipovic (see Press Release 665e).
Factual allegations
The amended Indictment of 9 February 1998 alleged that during the armed conflict between the forces of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and those of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from January 1993 until at least May 1993, the HVO systematically attacked villages chiefly inhabited by Bosnian Muslims in the Lasva River Valley Region of central Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Santic was charged for his alleged involvement in the persecution of the Bosnian Muslim villages of Ahmici-Santici and its environs from October 1992 to April 1993, and in the participation in an attack on Ahmici-Santici on 16 April 1993. During the attack the village was shelled from a distance and then groups of HVO soldiers went from house-to-house attacking Bosnian Muslim civilians and burning their houses, barns and livestock.
Charges
Vladimir Santic was charged on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute) with:
- Violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 of the Statute - murder; cruel treatment),
- Crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute - persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds; murder; inhumane acts).
The Judgement
On 14 January 2000, the Trial Chamber pronounced its Judgement. Vladimir Santic was found GUILTY on the basis of individual criminal responsibility for: Crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute - persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds; murder; inhumane acts). He was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. He was found NOT GUILTY on the basis of individual criminal responsibility for: Violations of the laws or customs of war (Article 3 of the Statute - murder; cruel treatment).
The Appeal
On 24 January 2000, Vladimir Santic filed his notice of appeal against the Judgement and sentence. The Prosecution filed its notice of appeal against the Trial Chamber's findings regarding Santic on 31 January 2000. The appeal hearing took place from 23 to 25 July 2001.
The Appeals Chamber rendered its Judgement on 23 October 2001. The Appeals Chamber allowed his appeal in part and reduced his sentence from 25 to 18 years' imprisonment.
Santic is entitled to credit for the period spent in detention at the Tribunal since 6 October 1997.
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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