Hague rejects Šešelj's demand

The Hague Tribunal has rejected Vojislav Seselj’s request to have all charges against him dropped. Seselj cited the “doctrine of the misuse of proceedings” in his demand, stating that the Hague prosecution’s goal is to keep him in custody as long as possible. Hague rejects Seselj's demand The trial chamber stated that there is a determined “critical” length for a trial’s duration which should not be exceeded. It adds that the Seselj trial has been very well organized because of the seriousness of the charges against him. Postponements in the case came solely for the reason of securing a lawful trial and providing additional time for both sides to check important details in the process, the court stated. The Serb Radical Party leader’s trial began in September 2007 and has been postponed on several occasions on the request of the prosecutor. The last time the trial was delayed was when the prosecution was investigating whether a potential witness had been threatened. Information on that investigation is not open to the public. Seselj said that his arrest was the result of an agreement between former Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte and late Serbian prime minister Zoran Djindjic, with the goal of removing Seselj from the political scene in Serbia. Seselj said that there is not enough real evidence for the trial against him to continue. The chamber stated that he is subjective and that the quality of the evidence will be decided on by the court once all the evidence has been presented. Seselj is accused of crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia, Vojvodina and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the conflicts between 1991 and 1993. He has been in custody at the Hague Tribunal since February 24, 2003, when he surrendered himself to the Tribunal.

Hague rejects Šešelj's demand

The trial chamber stated that there is a determined “critical” length for a trial’s duration which should not be exceeded.

It adds that the Šešelj trial has been very well organized because of the seriousness of the charges against him.

Postponements in the case came solely for the reason of securing a lawful trial and providing additional time for both sides to check important details in the process, the court stated.

The Serb Radical Party leader’s trial began in September 2007 and has been postponed on several occasions on the request of the prosecutor.

The last time the trial was delayed was when the prosecution was investigating whether a potential witness had been threatened. Information on that investigation is not open to the public.

Šešelj said that his arrest was the result of an agreement between former Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte and late Serbian prime minister Zoran Đinđić, with the goal of removing Šešelj from the political scene in Serbia.

Šešelj said that there is not enough real evidence for the trial against him to continue.

The chamber stated that he is subjective and that the quality of the evidence will be decided on by the court once all the evidence has been presented.

Šešelj is accused of crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia, Vojvodina and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the conflicts between 1991 and 1993.

He has been in custody at the Hague Tribunal since February 24, 2003, when he surrendered himself to the Tribunal.