Ex-state security chief fails to appear for Hague trial

The start of the trial of Jovica Stanisic has been postponed because he failed to appear in court. The trial of the former Serbian state security chief and his former deputy Frank Simatovic was scheduled to begin today at the Hague Tribunal. Ex-state security chief fails to appear for Hague trial The two are accused of committing war crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1991and 1995. Stanisic, who suffers from chronic digestive problems, did not appear in court today. The trail chamber, presided by Patrick Robinson, had planned on closing the pre-trial hearing and confirming details of the trial, allowing prosecutor Dermot Groome to give his opening statement. According to the Beta news agency, Stanisic was examined in a Hague hospital today. Neither did he want to give up his rights to attending the court hearing and be represented by his defense attorney. The trial chamber held a private meeting with the prosecution and defense to discuss the new situation. Discussions will continue tomorrow. Stanisic’s defense team asked at the beginning of the year for the trial to be stopped because Stanisic was unable to attend because of ill health, but the prosecution refused, stating that he could be tried regardless of his health. After receiving medical attention, reports on his health were submitted to the trial chamber at the end of February. Stanisic (57) and Simatovic (57) are accused of crimes against Croats and Muslims during the war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1991 and 1995. The indictment includes allegations of persecution, murder, deportation, forced displacement and violating the laws and customs of war. According to the indictment, the two are accused of participating in a united criminal action led by former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, with the goal of permanently ridding large territories of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina of non-Serb residents in order to expand the Serbian state. Among other crimes, they are accused of the execution of five Muslim civilians near Trnova in June 1995, perpetrated by the Scorpions paramilitary unit. A video recording of the execution was shown during Slobodan Milosevic’s Hague trial. Stanisic and Simatovic were arrested during Operation Sword that followed the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic on March 12, 2003. Stanisic was extradited to The Hague on June 11 and Simatovic on May 30 of that year. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges. Stanisic and Simatovic were temporarily released from custody on December 9, 2004, until the beginning of the trial. They were returned to The Hague on February 11, 2008.

Ex-state security chief fails to appear for Hague trial

The two are accused of committing war crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1991and 1995.

Stanišić, who suffers from chronic digestive problems, did not appear in court today.

The trail chamber, presided by Patrick Robinson, had planned on closing the pre-trial hearing and confirming details of the trial, allowing prosecutor Dermot Groome to give his opening statement.

According to the Beta news agency, Stanišić was examined in a Hague hospital today. Neither did he want to give up his rights to attending the court hearing and be represented by his defense attorney.

The trial chamber held a private meeting with the prosecution and defense to discuss the new situation.

Discussions will continue tomorrow.

Stanišić’s defense team asked at the beginning of the year for the trial to be stopped because Stanišić was unable to attend because of ill health, but the prosecution refused, stating that he could be tried regardless of his health.

After receiving medical attention, reports on his health were submitted to the trial chamber at the end of February.

Stanišić (57) and Simatović (57) are accused of crimes against Croats and Muslims during the war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1991 and 1995. The indictment includes allegations of persecution, murder, deportation, forced displacement and violating the laws and customs of war.

According to the indictment, the two are accused of participating in a united criminal action led by former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević, with the goal of permanently ridding large territories of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina of non-Serb residents in order to expand the Serbian state.

Among other crimes, they are accused of the execution of five Muslim civilians near Trnova in June 1995, perpetrated by the Scorpions paramilitary unit. A video recording of the execution was shown during Slobodan Milošević’s Hague trial.

Stanišić and Simatović were arrested during Operation Sword that followed the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić on March 12, 2003. Stanišić was extradited to The Hague on June 11 and Simatović on May 30 of that year.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Stanišić and Simatović were temporarily released from custody on December 9, 2004, until the beginning of the trial.

They were returned to The Hague on February 11, 2008.