Hague prosecution: Šešelj's detention is legal

Hague prosecution: Šešelj's detention is legal

THE HAGUE -- The Hague Tribunal prosecution has asked that Vojislav Šešelj's compensation request for wrongful detention be dismissed as legally unfounded.

"Šešelj's custody is still legal. It is based on the court's request for his arrest and detention after the confirmation of the indictment which contains very serious violations of international humanitarian law," the prosecution said.

The prosecution recalls that Šešelj during the period of detention served prison terms lasting 54 months and that he "never tried to comply with the conditions for provisional release."

"The Trial Chamber has nevertheless taken steps to ensure that Šešelj's detention be limited to the purposes of current proceedings," the prosecution's response to the compensation request stated.

It further recalls the recent proposal of the chamber that the accused be granted provisional release, when Šešelj "again refused to comply with the conditions that the court deems necessary."

"The detention of Šešelj is therefore legal and his request for compensation lacks any basis. The mere fact that he was jailed during the procedure does not lead to compensation."

The prosecution pointed out that Šešelj's "overly voluminous request" contains numerous unsubstantiated claims that have been discussed before, "as well as completely irrelevant allegations, " and these should be discarded together.

Šešelj is asking for EUR 12 million compensation for unlawful detention. The leader of the Serb Radical Party (SRS) voluntarily surrendered to the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) in early 2003, shortly after he was indicted, and has been detained ever since. His war...