The former editor-in-chief of the Split-based Slobodna Dalmacija newspaper was charged with obstruction of justice and violation of the tribunal's orders for making public six years ago the identity and testimony of protected witness Stjepan Mesic, now the President of Croatia, and for continuing the publication of excerpts from the transcripts of the testimony the witness had made in closed session in defiance of the court order to stop doing so.
The trial chamber found that the accused was aware that he was violating the court orders. Judge Robinson said that Jovic had demonstrated extreme contempt of the court order to stop the further publication of the transcripts by bragging around that he was continuing the publication.
The public statement by President Mesic, in which he admitted giving testimony at the Hague tribunal in the case against Bosnian Croat commander Tihomir Blaskic and which implied that he did not need protection, was taken as a mitigating circumstance.
Under the tribunal's rules, contempt of court is punishable by a prison sentence of up to seven years or a fine not exceeding 100,000 euros.
Jovic did not attend the sentencing hearing, using the right given to him by the trial chamber that, if he so wished, he could renounce in writing his right to be present in court.