According to a press release issued on the website of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Wednesday, the Appeals Chamber "dismissed all grounds of appeal and affirmed the fine of 15,000 Euros on each of the accused. However, it allowed the accused to pay the fines in three monthly installments instead of 30 days, as ruled by the Trial Chamber."
The press release recalls that "in its judgement from 10 March 2006, the Trial Chamber stated that both Marijacic and Rebic deliberately disclosed information regarding the testimony of Johannes van Kuijk, a Dutch army officer who testified as a protected witness in the case against former Croatian Army general Tihomir Blaskic."
At the time when the criminal act was committed, Marijacic was a journalist and editor-in-chief of the Zagreb-based weekly publication Hrvatski List and Rebic used to be the head of Croatia's Security Information Service (SIS).
"Although no harm was done to the protected witness as a result of the disclosure of his identity and content of his testimony, the Trial Chamber found that the deliberate and calculated manner in which Marijacic and Rebic disregarded the closed session order is a serious matter which tends to diminish the authority of the Trial Chamber in the Blaskic trial," the press release reads adding that ICTY judges hold that "public confidence in the effectiveness of the Tribunal's protective measures is vital to the success of its work".
The trial against Marijacic and Rebic commenced on 17 January 2006 and concluded on 19 January 2006.