UN Court Hears Closing Arguments in Serbian Security Officials’ Trial

Closing arguments in the case against former Serbian State Security officials Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic, who are accused of controlling Serb fighters who committed crimes during the Croatian and Bosnian wars, are being heard from Monday to Wednesday at the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals in The Hague.

"The prosecution will have four hours to present its closing arguments. The defence teams will have five hours in total for the presentation of their closing arguments, equally divided between them, unless both defence teams agree otherwise," the court said.

It added that the prosecution will then have one hour for rebuttal arguments and the defence teams will be given an hour in total to give their response.

Stanisic, the former head of Serbian State Security, and Franko 'Frenki' Simatovic, alias 'Fenki', his former deputy, are being retried for alleged participation in a joint criminal enterprise whose aim was the forcible and permanent removal of the majority of non-Serbs, mainly Croats and Bosniaks, from large areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 1991 to 1995.

Stanisic and Simatovic are accused of "directed and organised the financing, training, logistical support and other substantial assistance or support" for Serbian State Security special armed units and other Serb forces, such as paramilitary groups, that were involved committing crimes during the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.

Experts say the case is significant because the verdict could establish the facts about Serbia's much-denied direct involvement in both conflicts.

Stanisic has not been attending hearings since he was released from custody in the...

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