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Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
The Hague, 11 August 2004
CC/ P.I.S./883e
PRLIC, STOJIC, PRALJAK, PETKOVIC, CORIC AND PUSIC:
PROVISIONAL RELEASE STAYED
On Tuesday 10 August, a Bench of three Appeals Chamber’s Judges stayed the Orders previously issued by Trial Chamber I on the provisional release of Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petkovic, Valentin Coric and Berislav Pusic.
Signed by Judge Güney (also on behalf of Judge Meron and Judge Pocar, who are away from he Tribunal but who have been consulted and who have agreed with the decision), the Bench’s Order follows on an application by the Prosecution, on 5 August, to be granted leave to appeal against the Trial Chamber’s Orders on the provisional release of the six accused.
The Bench considered that "the objective of the Prosecution’s appeal (…) could be significantly impaired if the action against which the Prosecution seeks to appeal will have already been taken."
It accordingly granted the stay sought by the Prosecution until its decision on the merits of the Prosecution’s application.
BACKGROUND
On 30 July 2004, Trial Chamber I, consisting of Judge Liu Daqun (presiding), Judge Amin El Mahdi and Judge Alphons Orie, ordered the provisional release of the six Accused under certain specific terms and conditions (see Press Release 880).
Meanwhile, on Tuesday 3 August, the Prosecutor, announcing her intention to appeal against the provisional release of the six accused, filed before the Duty Judge a Motion "to stay" the Trial Chamber’s Orders.
The Duty Judge, Judge Weinberg de Roca, considered that "in the circumstances, it is not appropriate for the Duty Judge, acting as a single Judge, to decide this issue and it is more appropriate for the Trial Chamber to do so" (see Press Release 881) and ordered that the accused remain in custody until the decision by Trial Chamber I..
On Monday 9 August, Trial Chamber I rejected the Prosecution’s Motion for a Stay. However, the Prosecution had meanwhile filed her application for leave to appeal, which led to the Appeals Bench’s Order of 10 August (see above).
The full text of the Orders by Trial Chamber I (9 August) and the Appeals Bench (10 August) will be available on the ICTY web site as soon as possible.
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