"I am guilty and truly sorry," Bralo said after each count was read out by presiding judge Liu Daqun.
Unlike the original 21-count indictment from 1995, the amended indictment was shortened, but added to the first count was the charge of persecution on political, religious or racial grounds as a crime against humanity due to Bralo's involvement in the killing of more than 100 Muslims in Ahmici on 16 April 1993.
The other eight counts in the amended indictment contain the charges from the previous 21. Three counts charge him with murder, torture and outrages upon personal dignity including rape as a violation of the laws or customs of war, while four counts charge him with torture, inhuman treatment and unlawful confinement of civilians as grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
The Trial Chamber confirmed the amended indictment at the hearing, after which Bralo entered his plea and the Trial Chamber took a break to consider the plea agreement.
Prosecutor Mark Harmon said the plea agreement was reached unconditionally and that the defendant accepted the counts of the amended indictment as they were.
Bralo's counsel Johnatan Cooper confirmed that his client arrived at the plea agreement independently and voluntarily, and that this was a sign of his repentance.
Asked by judge Liu if he was forced to enter the plea agreement, Bralo said he did it of his own volition. Bralo added he understood that the Trial Chamber was not obliged to accept the punishment which he might later agree with the Office of the Prosecutor.
After consultations with the judges, the prosecution and the defence, Liu announced that a sentencing hearing was expected to be held in the second or third week of October.
During the time covered by the indictment, January-July 1993, Bralo was a member of the Croatian Defence Council's special unit the Jokers. The initial indictment against him was confirmed on 10 November 1995 but was issued only on 12 October 2004.
Bralo surrendered to the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina in November 2004 and was transferred to The Hague on November 12. He pleaded not guilty in his first appearance before the tribunal on November 15.
Bralo is the first accused Bosnian Croat to reach a plea agreement with the Hague tribunal's Office of the Prosecutor.
In the autumn of 1997, Bralo made an unsuccessful attempt to surrender to the SFOR. He was told at the peacekeepers' HQ that he was not on the list of the Hague tribunal's indictees.