Bosnian Serb in contempt of Hague court

A former Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) officer has refused to testify in the Srebrenica Seven trial. This has landed Dragan Jokic, former engineer chief in the VRS Zvornik Brigade, himself sentenced to 9 years by the Hague Tribunal for aiding and abetting the crimes committed in Srebrenica, with charges of contempt of court. Bosnian Serb in contempt of Hague court The seven Bosnian Serb military and police officer are on trial for genocide and other crimes they allegedly committed in Srebrenica and Zepa, in eastern Bosnia, during the 1992-1995 war in that country. At the request of the prosecution, the Trial Chamber issued a subpoena to Jokic, summoning him to appear before the Tribunal and testify. He was granted full protective measures and was to testify in closed session. Jokic was brought to the courtroom from the UN Detention Unit where he is awaiting transfer to a prison in a UN member state where he will serve his sentence. After he arrived, he said that he was mentally unable to testify and refused to read the solemn declaration obliging him to speak truth and nothing but the truth. The presiding judge told him that he faced contempt of court charges and ordered a 10-minute recess so Jokic could have his situation explained to him by Branislava Isailovic, who was appointed his defense counsel. To no avail: when he returned to the courtroom, Jokic said that he felt unable to testify and was consequently formally charged with contempt of court. Judge Agius announced that the indictment would be drafted during the day. Dragan Jokic is the fourth witness charged with contempt of court for refusing to testify. The case against the protected witness K12 who refused to testify at the trial of Slobodan Milosevic was suspended after the judges accepted his concern for his personal safety and that of the family should the facts of his testimony become known. Kosta Bulatovic, Milosevic’s defense witness, was sentenced to 4 months in prison, with a two-year parole for refusing to testify in the absence of the accused. Sefcet Kabasi, former KLA member, refused to testify at the trial of Ramush Haradinaj, Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj, citing personal safety concerns. The protective measures, he said, "apply only in the Tribunal’s courtroom, not in Kosovo." His case is still before the Trial Chamber.

Bosnian Serb in contempt of Hague court

The seven Bosnian Serb military and police officer are on trial for genocide and other crimes they allegedly committed in Srebrenica and Žepa, in eastern Bosnia, during the 1992-1995 war in that country.

At the request of the prosecution, the Trial Chamber issued a subpoena to Jokić, summoning him to appear before the Tribunal and testify.

He was granted full protective measures and was to testify in closed session. Jokić was brought to the courtroom from the UN Detention Unit where he is awaiting transfer to a prison in a UN member state where he will serve his sentence.

After he arrived, he said that he was mentally unable to testify and refused to read the solemn declaration obliging him to speak truth and nothing but the truth.

The presiding judge told him that he faced contempt of court charges and ordered a 10-minute recess so Jokić could have his situation explained to him by Branislava Isailović, who was appointed his defense counsel.

To no avail: when he returned to the courtroom, Jokić said that he felt unable to testify and was consequently formally charged with contempt of court. Judge Agius announced that the indictment would be drafted during the day.

Dragan Jokić is the fourth witness charged with contempt of court for refusing to testify.

The case against the protected witness K12 who refused to testify at the trial of Slobodan Milošević was suspended after the judges accepted his concern for his personal safety and that of the family should the facts of his testimony become known.

Kosta Bulatović, Milošević’s defense witness, was sentenced to 4 months in prison, with a two-year parole for refusing to testify in the absence of the accused.

Sefcet Kabasi, former KLA member, refused to testify at the trial of Ramush Haradinaj, Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj, citing personal safety concerns.

The protective measures, he said, "apply only in the Tribunal’s courtroom, not in Kosovo."

His case is still before the Trial Chamber.