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Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)
CC/PIU/341-E
The Hague, 31 August 1998
FURTHER APPEARANCE NEXT THURSDAY OF
MILAN SIMIC, MIROSLAV TADIC AND SIMO ZARIC
("BOSANSKI SAMAC" Indictment)
Following the confirmation on 25 August 1998, by Judge Lal Chand Vohrah, of an amended indictment in the case Prosecutor v. Milan Simic, Miroslav Tadic and Simo Zaric, the three Defendants have to enter a plea of not-guilty or guilty on each of the new charges brought against them.
The hearing for this further appearance of Milan Simic, Miroslav Tadic and Simo Zaric will be held on Thursday 3 September 1998, at 4 p.m., before the Presiding Judge of Trial Chamber I, Judge Claude Jorda.
This hearing is public.
The amended indictment
Filed by the Office of the Prosecutor on 15 July 1998, the amended indictment:
- severs the case of the three defendants from the case of the three other defendants charged with them in the initial indictment issued on 21 July 1995 with regard to the forcible take-over in April 1992 by Serb forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia of the municipality of Bosanski Samac (northern Bosnia);
- covers the "ethnic cleansing" allegedly carried out not only in the municipality of Bosanski Samac but also in the municipality of Odzak;
- specifies the positions and functions of the three accused for the period of time covered by the indictment;
- alleges that the three accused were involved in more incidents;
- and reformulates the counts brought against them: Milan Simic, initially charged with 3 counts is now charged with 11 counts: five (5) Crimes against humanity, two (2) Violations of the Laws or Customs of War and four (4) Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions ; Miroslav Tadic, initially charged with 2 counts, is now charged with 3 counts: two (2) Crimes against humanity and
one (1) Grave Breach of the Geneva Conventions; Simo Zaric, initially charged with 2 counts, is now charged with 3 counts: two (2) Crimes against humanity and one (1) Grave breach of the Geneva Conventions.
Background information
Milan Simic and Miroslav Tadic surrendered voluntarily on 14 February 1998, and Simo Zaric on 24 February 1998.
During the initial appearance hearings, on 17 February in the case of Milan Simic and Miroslav Tadic and on 26 February in the case of Simo Zaric, the three defendants pleaded not guilty.
On 26 March 1998, Trial Chamber I ordered the provisional release of Milan Simic (see press release 306) who agreed to return to The Hague, at his own costs, to attend pre-trial proceedings.
The full text of the amended indictment will be available at the opening of the hearing.
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