Prosecutors seek 28 years in jail for Šešelj

Hague Tribunal prosecutors on Wednesday asked for a 28-year prison sentence for Vojislav Seselj for his role in war crimes committed in 1991 and 1993. The prosecution requests a sentence of 28 years, prosecutor Mathias Marcussen said on the third day of closing arguments. Prosecutors seek 28 years in jail for Seselj His crimes deserve the punishment of the gravity they reflect, there are no mitigating circumstances, he said. Seselj faces nine counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his share in trying to create "a Greater Serbia" during the early 1990s through the murder and removal of Croats, Muslims and other non-Serbs in the region. The Hague issued an indictment against Seselj in January 2003, and he voluntarily surrendered in February of that year. He has been incarcerated ever since, and his trial began in November 2007. Seselj has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Seventy-two witnesses appeared for the prosecution, nine were called by the trial chamber, while Seselj himself called no witnesses during his trial. In the meantime, in July 2009, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. In February 2010, the Hague charged Seselj with contempt of court for the second time, because he made public the identities of several protected witnesses from the main trial phase. In May last year, he was once again charged with contempt of court. Seselj is due to conclude his own defense next week. Vojislav Seselj (file) Tanjug

Prosecutors seek 28 years in jail for Šešelj

His crimes deserve the punishment of the gravity they reflect, there are no mitigating circumstances, he said.

Šešelj faces nine counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his share in trying to create "a Greater Serbia" during the early 1990s through the murder and removal of Croats, Muslims and other non-Serbs in the region.

The Hague issued an indictment against Šešelj in January 2003, and he voluntarily surrendered in February of that year. He has been incarcerated ever since, and his trial began in November 2007.

Šešelj has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Seventy-two witnesses appeared for the prosecution, nine were called by the trial chamber, while Šešelj himself called no witnesses during his trial.

In the meantime, in July 2009, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.

In February 2010, the Hague charged Šešelj with contempt of court for the second time, because he made public the identities of several protected witnesses from the main trial phase.

In May last year, he was once again charged with contempt of court.

Šešelj is due to conclude his own defense next week.