The warrant for Jovic's arrest and transfer was issued a week ago, spokesman Jim Landale told Hina by phone, adding that ICTY officials had discussed the matter with Croatian authorities and hoped Jovic would be transferred to The Hague to enter his plea.
Josip Jovic, a reporter for Slobodna Dalmacija daily who was indicted on September 9 for contempt because he published the name and testimony of a protected witness, failed to appear at the tribunal on September 26, when he was expected to enter his plea. Two days later, the tribunal issued a warrant for his arrest.
The warrant, issued on September 28, was delivered by diplomatic post and not via the ICTY office in Zagreb as usual. The Croatian Justice Ministry received it as late as October 3, when it was forwarded to the Split County Court.
The case is now within the jurisdiction of that court, which will proceed in line with the Constitutional Law on Cooperation with the ICTY and deadlines envisaged by that law, Assistance Justice Minister Jaksa Muljacic told Hina by phone.
Under the law, an investigating judge of the Split County Court has three days to make a decision on the arrest warrant, after which the court will decide on the request for the transfer of the accused. The procedure at the Split County Court is expected to last about ten days, and in case of an appeal, around three weeks.
Jovic and his attorney Kresimir Krsnik earlier said they would use all remedies provided for by the Constitutional Law.
County Court spokeswoman Marica Scepanovic declined to comment on the case, saying that the proceedings in this case were confidential. She added that the public would be informed about the court's decision on time.
The ICTY trial chamber conducting proceedings against Croatian reporters charged with contempt is expected to make a decision on the prosecution's motion of September 20 for a joinder of the case against Jovic and the cases of Hrvatsko Slovo weekly director Stjepan Seselj, and the weekly's former and current editors, Domagoj Margetic and Marijan Krizic, respectively.
Defence attorneys for the four reporters opposed the prosecution's motion for a joinder of the trial and indictments. The ICTY trial chamber is expected to decide on the matter soon.