Marijacic and Rebic were indicted for revealing in Hrvatski List in November 2004 the identity and testimony of a protected witness from the trial of Bosnian Croat Tihomir Blaskic.
The indictment was confirmed on February 26 this year. Under ICTY rules, contempt of court is punishable with up to seven years in jail, a EUR100,000 fine, or a combination of the two.
Rebic, 54, former presidential advisor on national security, is accused of having revealed to Marijacic, 48, the identity of the protected witness and given him a copy of the witness' statement to the Prosecution and the transcript of his testimony at a closed-door 19 December 1997 hearing.
On 18 November 2004, Hrvatski List published an article headlined "World Exclusive - We are the First in the World to Publish the SECRET DOCUMENT Showing Carla Del Ponte's Conspiracy Against Croatia". Under the indictment, Marijacic and Rebic revealed the witness' identity and testimony aware that they were breaking ICTY rules.
Marijacic's attorney Marin Ivanovic and Rebic's attorney Kresimir Krsnik said they would request that the indictment be dismissed because it was not issued in accordance with ICTY rules.
Prosecutor David Eckerson said the investigation was still under way due to some previous incidents and that further charges might be brought.
Another two Croats accused of contempt of court will plead before the Hague tribunal this afternoon, Stjepan Seselj and Domagoj Margetic, director and former editor-in-chief of Hrvatsko Slovo respectively. They are also accused of having revealed the identity and testimony of another witness at the Blaskic trial.