The Trial Chamber found Domagoj Margetic guilty of contempt of the Tribunal for disclosing protected witness lists sentencing him to a prison term of three months and a fine of 10,000 Euros.
Domagoj Margetic, a Croatian freelance journalist, was found guilty of interfering with witnesses by publishing a protected witness list with names and other information on his personal website between 7 July and 2 August 2006. The Trial Chamber also found that he did so despite receiving explicit warning that the material was confidential and under court orders prohibiting publication.
The Trial Chamber was satisfied that Margetic knew that he was interfering with witnesses and that many of the witnesses were protected because of their vulnerability. He was also aware that by publishing the list it was likely that the witnesses would be dissuaded from future cooperation with the Tribunal, that their testimony would be influenced or that they would be exposed to threats and intimidation.
When determining its sentence, the Trial Chamber took into account that Margetic published information with regard to a considerable number of protected witnesses as well as the personal and psychological consequences the disclosure had on the lives of at least three of the protected witnesses.
He will receive credit for the 34 days he spent detained in custody in Croatia.
The Tribunal has held contempt proceedings against 19 people, including accused, defence counsel, witnesses, journalists and others for charges including intimidating witnesses, refusing to answer questions in court, leaking confidential court documents, and breaching protective measures.
The full summary of the judgement can be found at: http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1145e-summary.htmin
French language: http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1145f-summary.htm
All proceedings can be followed on the Tribunal's website http://www.un.org/icty .
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
Domagoj Margetic, a Croatian freelance journalist, was found guilty of interfering with witnesses by publishing a protected witness list with names and other information on his personal website between 7 July and 2 August 2006. The Trial Chamber also found that he did so despite receiving explicit warning that the material was confidential and under court orders prohibiting publication.
The Trial Chamber was satisfied that Margetic knew that he was interfering with witnesses and that many of the witnesses were protected because of their vulnerability. He was also aware that by publishing the list it was likely that the witnesses would be dissuaded from future cooperation with the Tribunal, that their testimony would be influenced or that they would be exposed to threats and intimidation.
When determining its sentence, the Trial Chamber took into account that Margetic published information with regard to a considerable number of protected witnesses as well as the personal and psychological consequences the disclosure had on the lives of at least three of the protected witnesses.
He will receive credit for the 34 days he spent detained in custody in Croatia.
The Tribunal has held contempt proceedings against 19 people, including accused, defence counsel, witnesses, journalists and others for charges including intimidating witnesses, refusing to answer questions in court, leaking confidential court documents, and breaching protective measures.
The full summary of the judgement can be found at: http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1145e-summary.htmin
French language: http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2007/pr1145f-summary.htm
All proceedings can be followed on the Tribunal's website http://www.un.org/icty .
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)