"The Appeals Chamber found that the sentences imposed by the Trial Chamber against them were within the range that a reasonable Trial Chamber could have ordered. It therefore confirmed their sentences to 20 and 18 years' imprisonment, respectively," said Italian judge Fausto Pocar while reading out the explanation of the final verdict.
According to a press release issued on the website of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), "In its Judgement, the Appeals Chamber dismissed the vast majority of the grounds of appeal raised by both sides".
The appeal by the defence teams that no international conflict was proved, i.e. that Croatia was involved in the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was also dismissed by the Appeals Chamber.
Both Naletilic and Martinovic pleaded not guilty before the trial started in September 2001.
According to the press release, "on 31 March 2003, the Trial Chamber sentenced Mladen Naletilic and Vinko Martinovic to 20 and 18 years' imprisonment, respectively, for their involvement in the ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslim civilians in the Mostar area of Bosnia and Herzegovina from April 1993 to January 1994. During the relevant period, Mladen Naletilic was commander of the Convicts" Battalion, a military unit within the Croatian Defence Council (HVO). Vinko Martinovic was commander of a sub-unit within the Convicts" Battalion. Among other charges, both accused were found guilty of persecutions, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, unlawful transfer of civilians and unlawful labour. Vinko Martinovic was also found guilty of murder while Mladen Naletilic was found guilty for acts of torture".
Naletilic and Martinovic were arrested in Croatia in 1997 where proceedings against them were under way.
Martinovic was transferred to The Hague in August 1999, and Naletilic in March 2000.
The time they spent in custody will be included in the duration of their imprisonment.