ZAGREB, July 24 (Hina) - General Rahim Ademi will wear the uniform of the Croatian Army during his initial appearance before a trial chamber of the UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY), set for Wednesday. Defence Ministry allowed Gen. Ademi
to wear his uniform, his lawyer, Cedo Prodanovic, was quoted by the Croatian media as saying on Tuesday. Gen. Ademi, who has decided to turn himself in to the ICTY voluntarily, will fly on a regular flight from Zagreb to Amsterdam tomorrow and will later be transferred to the detention centre of Schevingen prison. On Wednesday Ademi is expected to make his initial appearance before the three-member trial chamber. On this occasion he will be acquainted with charges in the sealed indictment issued against him. After the indictment is read out, Ademi will enter a plea of not guilty, lawyer Prodanovic said. Although his indictment is still secret, it is believed that this C
ZAGREB, July 24 (Hina) - General Rahim Ademi will wear the uniform
of the Croatian Army during his initial appearance before a trial
chamber of the UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY), set for Wednesday.
Defence Ministry allowed Gen. Ademi to wear his uniform, his
lawyer, Cedo Prodanovic, was quoted by the Croatian media as saying
on Tuesday.
Gen. Ademi, who has decided to turn himself in to the ICTY
voluntarily, will fly on a regular flight from Zagreb to Amsterdam
tomorrow and will later be transferred to the detention centre of
Schevingen prison.
On Wednesday Ademi is expected to make his initial appearance
before the three-member trial chamber. On this occasion he will be
acquainted with charges in the sealed indictment issued against
him.
After the indictment is read out, Ademi will enter a plea of not
guilty, lawyer Prodanovic said.
Although his indictment is still secret, it is believed that this
Croatian general is held responsible for crimes committed in the
pocket of Medak.
After he recently expressed his readiness to surrender voluntarily
to the Tribunal in The Hague and prove his innocence, Zagreb made it
possible for him to travel to The Hague alone.
Thanks to his decision, the Croatian government suspended the
procedure of his extradition on 13 July, and let him have ten day for
the preparation for the departure to The Hague.
According to media speculations, Ademi is likely to be allowed to
defend himself from freedom, as his voluntary surrender should be
one of arguments in his favour.
Ademi is one of two Croatian nationals named in sealed indictments
which the Tribunal served to Zagreb in early June.
General Ante Gotovina is widely believed to be the second indictee
who was put on a wanted list of the Croatian Interior Ministry,
after police did not manage to find him at his address and give him a
warrant for his arrest.
(hina) ms