STL AC acquits journalist Karma al-Khayat of contempt charges: On Tuesday 8 March 2016 in a written judgement, the Appeals Panel, presided over by STL President Judge Ivana Hrdliekova, and consisting of Judge Janet Nosworthy and Judge Walid Akoum overturned last year’s conviction of journalist Karma al-Khayat and set aside the fine of 10,000 euros. The conviction of Khayat was for failing to obey a court order to remove videos of witnesses of the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri. The appeals court also upheld Khayat’s earlier acquittal on the charge of exposing confidential witnesses as well as the acquittal of the TV channel Al Jadeed on two counts. Prosecutors had accused Khayat and Al Jadeed, the TV channel she is now vice-chairperson of, of seeking to undermine the case against Hariri’s alleged killers by running a series of broadcasts allegedly exposing witnesses. (Reuters, The Hague Justice Portal, YaLIBNAN)
Serbian Justice Minister unsure whether Seselj will obey ICTY order to attend judgment: On Wednesday, 9 March 2016 Serbian Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said he “does not know whether Vojislav Seselj will be in The Hague on March 31”, where Seselj’s verdict is scheduled to be read, and his attendance has been court ordered. Minister Selakovic said he doesn’t know and can’t speak about what will happen on 31 March. He noted that the Ministry has regularly been informing the ICTY of the reports it requested regarding the extradition of three members of Seselj’s SRS party, who are wanted on contempt of court charges, but cannot discuss the details because they are confidential.
Also on Wednesday, Seselj said he will appear before the Special Court in Belgrade on Thursday, but that he will not voluntarily return to The Hague. Reports indicate that Seselj said at a news conference “I’ll go to the Special Court, I expect a large number of our party’s supporters to go there too. I will present what I have to say, as a way of my opposition to the ‘delivery’. (b92)
Finland brings war crimes charges against two Iraqi citizens: According to Helsinki prosecutors as of Tuesday 8 March 2016 two Iraqi men have been charged with war crimes in Finland. The men are charged in connection with events that took place in Iraq in 2014 and 2015. The charges are not related, but both charges involve the desecration of bodies. Both of the men said that they fought against the Islamic State and have denied the charges. If the men are found guilty the maximum penalty is a sentence of life in prison, but Helsinki District Court Prosecutor Juha-Mikko Hamalainen stated that any punishment would likely be at the “lower end of the scale”. (abc News, Reuters, Yahoo! News)
The post 10 March 2016 – NEWS ABOUT THE COURTS – STL AC contempt judgment in Karma al-Khayat case, Serbia unsure of Seselj attendance for judgment and Finland charges 2 Iraqis with WC appeared first on ICL Media Review.