Hague checking Karadžić indictment

The Hague Prosecution is checking to see whether Radovan Karadzic’s indictment from 2000 needs to be updated or changed. Prosecution spokeswoman Olga Kavran confirmed the information to B92, explaining that the indictment against Karadzic contained 11 counts. Hague checking Karadzic indictment Kavran reiterated that the first indictment against the suspect had been raised in July 1995, which was amended in the same year to contain a count of genocide, while eight years ago former Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte formulated the most recent indictment. “The prosecution team is going through and studying the indictment that was last changed eight years ago, to see whether there is any cause to change or bring it in to line with judicial practice, or possibly, with the new evidence that has been collected in the meantime,“ said Kavran. She added that if it was deemed that the indictment needed to be amended, “the indictment will once again go to the courtroom for confirmation.“ In Belgrade, however, at least as far as extradition is concerned, everything is on hold until tomorrow evening when Karadzic’s lawyer is due to lodge his appeal. Meanwhile, Radovan Karadzic's lawyer Svetozar Vujacic said on Thursday that two teams from Serbia, an expert and legal team, would help his client in his defense at the Hague. In a press statement given outside the Special Court, he said that the expert team would include Belgrade Law School Professor Kosta Cavoski, Smilja Avramov and Milivoje Ivanisevic. Vujacic added that he would suggest that, besides himself, lawyers Toma Fila and Goran Petronijevic be included in Karadzic's legal team, and reiterated that the former Bosnian Serb leader would be defend himself. The lawyer said that he had filed a criminal complaint against unknown perpetrators for the abduction and illegal detention of Karadzic from July 18 to July 21. The Special Court where Karadzic is being held in custody (FoNet)

Hague checking Karadžić indictment

Kavran reiterated that the first indictment against the suspect had been raised in July 1995, which was amended in the same year to contain a count of genocide, while eight years ago former Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte formulated the most recent indictment.

“The prosecution team is going through and studying the indictment that was last changed eight years ago, to see whether there is any cause to change or bring it in to line with judicial practice, or possibly, with the new evidence that has been collected in the meantime,“ said Kavran.

She added that if it was deemed that the indictment needed to be amended, “the indictment will once again go to the courtroom for confirmation.“

In Belgrade, however, at least as far as extradition is concerned, everything is on hold until tomorrow evening when Karadžić’s lawyer is due to lodge his appeal.

Meanwhile, Radovan Karadzic's lawyer Svetozar Vujačić said on Thursday that two teams from Serbia, an expert and legal team, would help his client in his defense at the Hague.

In a press statement given outside the Special Court, he said that the expert team would include Belgrade Law School Professor Kosta Čavoski, Smilja Avramov and Milivoje Ivanisević.

Vujačić added that he would suggest that, besides himself, lawyers Toma Fila and Goran Petronijević be included in Karadzic's legal team, and reiterated that the former Bosnian Serb leader would be defend himself.

The lawyer said that he had filed a criminal complaint against unknown perpetrators for the abduction and illegal detention of Karadžić from July 18 to July 21.