ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - More than three years after the verdict was delivered against former president of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) Darijo Kordic and former commander of the Croatian Council of
Defence's Vitez Brigade, Marijo Cerkez, who were found guilty of war crimes against Muslim civilians in Lasva Valley in 1992-1994 and sentenced to 25 and 15 years in prison, an appeals hearing will be held next week at which defence attorneys will try to contest parts of the verdict and reduce the sentences.
ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - More than three years after the verdict was
delivered against former president of the Croatian Democratic Union of
Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) Darijo Kordic and former commander of the
Croatian Council of Defence's Vitez Brigade, Marijo Cerkez, who were
found guilty of war crimes against Muslim civilians in Lasva Valley in
1992-1994 and sentenced to 25 and 15 years in prison, an appeals
hearing will be held next week at which defence attorneys will try to
contest parts of the verdict and reduce the sentences.#L#
"We are optimistic, some of our arguments will most definitely be
accepted," Kordic's attorney Mitko Naumovski said
Kordic and Cerkez were convicted based on personal and command
responsibility for the persecution of Muslims from Lasva Valley.
murders, detaining and attacking civilians, destruction of property,
plunder and inhumane treatment.
Kordic and Cerkeze surrendered to the ICTY on 6 October 1997 and
pleaded not guilty. The tribunal had turned down their requests for
provisional release pending trial.
(Hina) it