| Press Release |
TRIAL CHAMBER
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| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
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The Hague, 27 January 2004
JL/P.I.S./818-e
Milan Babic Pleads Guilty to one Count of Crimes Against Humanity
Today, Tuesday 27 January 2004, Trial Chamber I comprised of Judges Alphons Orie (presiding), Amin El Mahdi and Joaquín Martín Canivell held a hearing to consider a joint Motion for consideration of a Plea Agreement between Milan Babic and the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP).
The Motion reflected a negotiated Plea Agreement whereby the accused would agree to plead guilty to Count 1 of his Indictment and, in exchange, the Prosecution would move to dismiss the remaining charges against Milan Babic.
Milan Babic entered a guilty plea to Count 1 of the Indictment, persecutions on political, racial, and religious grounds by participating as a co-perpetrator in a Joint Criminal Enterprise, punishable under Articles 5 of the Statute of the Tribunal.
The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) recommended the Trial Chamber impose a sentence of not more than 11 years’ imprisonment. The Defence did not make a recommendation in relation to possible sentence, but reserved the right to do so at the time of sentencing.
The Trial Chamber will render its Decision on whether to accept the Plea Agreement in due course.
The full text of the Plea Agreement will be available on the ICTY website in due course: www.un.org/icty
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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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