ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - The Hague war crimes tribunal prosecution appealed two of six verdicts in the "Kupreskic and others" case whereas five convicted Croats formally announced appeals against the decision of the Trial Chamber which
pronounced them guilty of war crimes, the International War Crimes Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) reported on Tuesday. The Prosecution appealed against verdicts received by Vladimir Santic and Drago Josipovic. It did not appeal to verdicts received by Zoran, Mirjan and Vlatko Kupreskic, and Dragan Papic, who was acquitted. Papic is the first ICTY indictee who was acquitted. Before him, an acquittal was pronounced only in the trial of Zejnil Delalic, who was acquitted of all charges for crimes committed against Serb prisoners in the Celebici camp in 1992. However, the Prosecution appealed that verdict as well. The deadline for submitting appeals expired on Monday a
ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - The Hague war crimes tribunal prosecution
appealed two of six verdicts in the "Kupreskic and others" case
whereas five convicted Croats formally announced appeals against
the decision of the Trial Chamber which pronounced them guilty of
war crimes, the International War Crimes Tribunal for former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) reported on Tuesday.
The Prosecution appealed against verdicts received by Vladimir
Santic and Drago Josipovic. It did not appeal to verdicts received
by Zoran, Mirjan and Vlatko Kupreskic, and Dragan Papic, who was
acquitted.
Papic is the first ICTY indictee who was acquitted. Before him, an
acquittal was pronounced only in the trial of Zejnil Delalic, who
was acquitted of all charges for crimes committed against Serb
prisoners in the Celebici camp in 1992. However, the Prosecution
appealed that verdict as well.
The deadline for submitting appeals expired on Monday afternoon.
Vladimir Santic and Drago Josipovic received the longest prison
sentences for ethnic persecution and participation in the killing
of Muslims. Santic received a 25-year prison sentence whereas
Josipovic was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Brothers Zoran and Mirjan Kupreskic were sentenced to ten and eight
years in prison respectively for ethnic persecution of Muslims.
They were acquitted on the count of participating in the killing of
Muslims. Vlatko Kupreskic was found guilty for aiding in the
expulsion of Muslims and sentenced to six years in prison.
The five Bosnian Croats were pronounced guilty of persecuting
Muslims and participating in a 1993 attack on the village of Ahmici,
when about a hundred Muslim civilians were killed.
Papic was visited last weekend in Vitez by his attorneys Nika Pinter
and Petar Puliselic.
(hina) rml