"No investigation against Del Ponte"

The Hague Tribunal has denied allegations that an investigation against former Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte and other prosecutors was launched. The announcement points out that the Trial Chamber has ordered appointment of an amicus curiae who would investigate possible intimidations and pressures exerted by some of the prosecution’s investigators. "No investigation against Del Ponte" Besides, the amicus curiae should also investigate the techniques they used in order to obtain preliminary written witness statements. The Hague Tribunal Spokeswoman Nerma Jelacic said that London-based daily the Guardian "misinterpreted the court’s decision”, pointing out that it stated that the investigation was focusing on the prosecution’s investigators. The Guardian reported that the tribunal on Wednesday ordered an independent investigation of actions of Carla Del Ponte and two active prosecutors Hildegard Urtz-Retzlaff and Daniel Saxon after witnesses’ complaints that they had been harassed, bribed and abused and that the obtained evidence had been illegally altered. “As it was explained at the press briefing yesterday, the names of the prosecutors mentioned in the decision's title found themselves there because the Trial Chamber, acting on its own initiative, decided to review the earlier decision from 2007 which was made regarding the brief of the accused Vojislav Seselj who stated these names,” the announcement said. Beside Del Ponte Seselj also named Hildegard Urtz-Retzlaff and Daniel Saxon in the brief. The tribunal’s representative Christian Chartier explained that the Trial Chamber had the prosecution’s investigators in mind, rather than the prosecutors themselves.

"No investigation against Del Ponte"

Besides, the amicus curiae should also investigate the techniques they used in order to obtain preliminary written witness statements.

The Hague Tribunal Spokeswoman Nerma Jelačić said that London-based daily the Guardian "misinterpreted the court’s decision”, pointing out that it stated that the investigation was focusing on the prosecution’s investigators.

The Guardian reported that the tribunal on Wednesday ordered an independent investigation of actions of Carla Del Ponte and two active prosecutors Hildegard Urtz-Retzlaff and Daniel Saxon after witnesses’ complaints that they had been harassed, bribed and abused and that the obtained evidence had been illegally altered.

“As it was explained at the press briefing yesterday, the names of the prosecutors mentioned in the decision's title found themselves there because the Trial Chamber, acting on its own initiative, decided to review the earlier decision from 2007 which was made regarding the brief of the accused Vojislav Šešelj who stated these names,” the announcement said.

Beside Del Ponte Šešelj also named Hildegard Urtz-Retzlaff and Daniel Saxon in the brief.

The tribunal’s representative Christian Chartier explained that the Trial Chamber had the prosecution’s investigators in mind, rather than the prosecutors themselves.