MICT to consider prosecution's appeal in Seselj case

The trial chamber of the Hague Tribinal (ICTY) in March 2016 acquitted the leader of the SRS party on all counts of the indictment, which accused him of war crimes committed against non-Serbs in Croatia, Vojvodina, and Bosnia-Herzegovina - Beta reported on Tuesday.

The prosecution is asking the MICT to either find Seselj guilty and sentence him to 28 years in prison, or order a retrial.

In his response to the filing, Seselj, who represents himself, asked that the prosecution's appeal be rejected, and the original ruling upheld.

He earlier informed the appeals chamber that he "does not intend to participate, in any way, in the process before the Hague Tribunal" and that he would not return to The Hague voluntarily.

In his response Seselj emphasized that he also "does not intend to come to The Hague for the reading of the final verdict."

The leader of the Radicals was not in the court when the trial chamber's verdict was announced last March, either.

Seselj was in the custody of the ICTY from February 2003, when he surrendered, until he was granted temporary release on health grounds in November 2014.

After an unsuccessful attempt and Seselj's hunger strike, the trial began in November 2007, with closing statements delivered in March 2012, and the verdict four years later.

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