ZAGREB/THE HAGUE, June 9 (Hina) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday released a report with results of an internal investigation into the circumstances of the death of war crimes convict
Milan Babic, who was serving a sentence of 13 years" imprisonment for crimes against Croats and other non-Serb civilians in the Croatian areas which used to be under the control of Croatian Serb rebels.
ZAGREB/THE HAGUE, June 9 (Hina) - The International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday released a report with
results of an internal investigation into the circumstances of the death of war
crimes convict Milan Babic, who was serving a sentence of 13 years"
imprisonment for crimes against Croats and other non-Serb civilians in the
Croatian areas which used to be under the control of Croatian Serb rebels. The former Croatian Serb rebel leader was found dead in his cell at the
United Nations Detention Unit ("UNDU") in the Scheveningen Penitentiary
Facility on Sunday evening, 5 March 2006. He died as a consequence of hanging
and a heart attack that happened at the same time.
According to the report which the ICTY issued on its web site, "Mr
Babic had hung himself by his leather belt around his neck and had also secured
a plastic bag around his neck to restrict air flow to his mouth and nose. He
was found dead by a guard shortly after 1828 hours. He was last seen alive by a
guard at about 1754 hours."
The 50-year-old Babic, who was testifying as a prosecution witness at
other ICTY trials against Serb leaders, was isolated in a cell and from other
prisoners for his own safety, and at his own request.