| Press Release |
TRIAL CHAMBER
|
| (Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document) |
|
The Hague, 7 February 2007
CT/MOW/1145e
Domagoj Margetić sentenced to three months prison term for contempt
The Trial Chamber found Domagoj Margetić guilty of contempt of the Tribunal for disclosing a protected witness list sentencing him to a prison term of three months and a fine of 10,000 Euros.
Domagoj Margetić, a Croatian freelance journalist, was found guilty of interfering with witnesses by publishing a protected witness list with names and other information on his personal website between 7 July and 2 August 2006. The Trial Chamber also found that he did so despite receiving explicit warning that the material was confidential and under court orders prohibiting publication.
The Trial Chamber was satisfied that Margetić knew that he was interfering with witnesses and that many of the witnesses were protected because of their vulnerability. He was also aware that by publishing the list it was likely that the witnesses would be dissuaded from future cooperation with the Tribunal, that their testimony would be influenced or that they would be exposed to threats and intimidation.
When determining its sentence, the Trial Chamber took into account that Margetić published information with regard to a considerable number of protected witnesses as well as the personal and psychological consequences the disclosure had on the lives of at least three of the protected witnesses.
He will receive credit for the 34 days he spent detained in custody in Croatia.
The Tribunal has held contempt proceedings against 19 people, including accused, defence counsel, witnesses, journalists and others for charges including intimidating witnesses, refusing to answer questions in court, leaking confidential court documents, and breaching protective measures.
*****
The full summary of the judgement can be found at:
http://www.icty.org/x/cases/contempt_margetic/tjug/en/margetic_judgement.pdf
*****
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
For more information, please contact our Media Office in The Hague
Tel.: +31-70-512-8752; 512-5343; 512-5356 Fax: +31-70-512-5355 - Email: press [at] icty.org
Follow ICTY on Twitter and Youtube