Closing arguments for STL contempt case of journalist and news company: The STL heard closing arguments over the 18 and 19 June 2015 in the tribunal’s first contempt proceeding. The charges are against Al-Jadeed TV and journalist Karma Khayat. This is the first instance of corporate liability being applied at an international tribunal. The prosecutor asked that the TV station be fined a maximum of six million euros and Ms. Khayat be imprisoned for two years and fined 200,000 euros. Karim Khan, who is defending Khayat and Al-Jadeed TV argued that “the amicus prosecutor failed to prove that his clients intentionally set out to undermine the Tribunal when it aired…a series called ‘Witnesses of the STL’ in August 2012” Khayat was given 10 minutes to address the tribunal, and stated, “You have wasted money, resources, time, and you have morally undermined the reputation of this tribunal”. The verdict should be announced in roughly two months. For more information on this issue please click here. (Daily Star).
Slovenia release Haradinaj following detention over Serbian arrest warrant: A Slovenian court ruled that former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has diplomatic immunity and has been released from detention where he was being held on a Serbian war crimes warrant. The court said “[Haradinaj] was crossing Slovenia while returning from a special diplomatic mission abroad which is why Slovenia must enable him free passage.” Haradinaj was formerly an accused at the ICTY and was tried twice and acquitted during both trials. For more information on this issue please click here. (inNews, SWI)
Lawyers call for termination of ICTY case against terminally ill Hadzic: In a motion released Thursday, 18 June 2015 by the ICTY, lawyers for Goran Hadzic are calling for the case to be halted or permanently stayed because he is terminally ill with brain cancer. Hadzic’s lawyers say there is “no reasonable prospect…of bringing criminal proceedings against Mr. Hadzic to completion” because of his medical condition. (US News, Associated Press)
Palestinian officials plan to submit first file of evidence against Israel at ICC: Palestinian officials are planning to submit their first file to the ICC. The file will be sent to Fatou Bensouda, the ICC chief prosecutor on 25 June 2015. According to Palestinian Foreign Ministry official, Ammar Hijazi, the file will focus on “violations of international law by Israel.” The file is “only general, its only statistical” according to Hijazi, But it draws a “picture of what Israel is doing and why we think that there are reasonable grounds…for the prosecutor to start (her) investigations.” Bensouda’s office has already launched a preliminary investigation into the crimes that took place since June 2014. (Albawaba News)
S Korean appointed as judge at the ECCC PTC: Baik Kang-jin, a South Korean judge, has been appointed to join trials at the ECCC to prosecute the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge for their alleged humanitarian crimes in the 1970s. An international judge at the ECCC is named by the U.N. Secretary General and appointed by the Cambodian government. Kang-jin is known for his “expertise in criminal procedure law.” (Yonhap News Agency)
