ICTY: Vojislav Seselj Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment

Pronouncing the verdict, Trial Chamber Chairman O-Gon Kwon said that it had been proved, beyond any doubt, that Seselj intentionally interfered with the administration of justice by disclosing information, in one of his books published on his Internet web page, which identified ten witnesses, who had previously been granted protection measures.

As stated under the brief summary of the verdict, which was read by judge Kwon, when he published his book, Seselj was knew about several Court’s decision, prohibiting the disclosure of identity of those witnesses, and he was aware of the fact that he “could not simply reveal their identity as he wanted”, but he still did that.

Therefore, the judges have determined that Seselj deliberately violated the Tribunal’s orders pertaining to protection of those witnesses.

The Chamber considered Seselj’s “lack of remorse” and the fact that the book is still available on the Internet as aggravating circumstances in Seselj’s case.

“By pronouncing the sentence, the Trial Chamber wanted to stress the need to discourage this type of behaviour and ensure there is no repetition of such conduct,” judge Kwon said.

The Tribunal previously rendered another second instance verdict, sentencing Seselj to 15 months’ imprisonment for contempt of the Tribunal.

Seselj followed the pronouncement of the verdict with a smile on his face. At the beginning of the session he introduced himself as “university professor and the biggest enemy of The Hague Tribunal”.

At the end of the trial for contempt of the Tribunal in June this year the prosecutors requested the Tribunal to sentence Seselj to three years in prison, while he said that he should be acquitted of the charges. The Rules of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, provide that the maximum penalty that may be imposed on a person found to be in contempt of the Tribunal shall be a fine not exceeding 100,000 Euros or a term of imprisonment not exceeding seven years.

In May this year the ICTY indicted Seselj for the third time for contempt of the Tribunal, because he failed to remove his books and data about witnesses from his Internet page. Seselj is due to enter his plea to the expanded indictment on Friday, November 4.

The main trial against Seselj, who is charged with crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Vojvodina, began in November 2007. The trial may soon be completed with presentation of closing statements by the Prosecution and Defence, as Seselj decided that he would not present evidence in his defence.

Seselj has been held in The Hague Tribunal’s Detention Unit since February 24, 2003, when he voluntarily surrendered.