Stojan Zupljanin wants to have his case joined with the one of Radovan Karadzic since, as he claims, both indictments allege the 'same criminal intent', participation in the 'same criminal enterprise' and in part 'the same crime base'


The defense of Stojan Zupljanin has filed a motion seeking joinder of the case against the former commander of the Banja Luka security services center and the Radovan Karadzic case. As the defense noted, the motion is a 'mirror image of the request' filed by the prosecution on 15 July 2008 seeking the joinder of Zupljanin's case and the case of Mico Stanisic, who served as interior minister in the first Bosnian Serb wartime government.

According to the defense, 'Zupljanin's right of fair trial and interest of justice seek joinder of his case and Karadzic's case'. The defense believes its request to be in accord with rules and legal practice of the Tribunal.

The indictments filed against them, the defense maintains, allege that Zupljanin, Stanisic and Karadzic shared 'the same criminal intent', were part of the 'same joint criminal enterprise' aimed at 'permanent elimination of Bosnian Muslims, Croats and other non-Serbs from parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina'.

According to the defense, the three accused are charged with same crimes: persecution, extermination, killing, deportation and forcible transfer qualified as crimes against humanity and violations of laws and customs of war. While Radovan Karadzic was president of Republika Srpska, Zupljanin and Stanisic held high posts in the Republika Srpska interior ministry.

Referring to the arguments from the prosecution motion seeking the joinder of Zupljanin and Mico Stanisic cases, Zupljanin's defense noted that a joint trial would 'prevent the duplication of evidence' and lessen the burden on the witness who would otherwise have to give evidence at two separate trials. A joint trial would also make proceedings more economical and contribute to the Tribunal's completion strategy. Lastly, the defense contends, the joinder of those cases would contribute to the consistency of the judgment and safeguard Zupljanin's right to a fair trial.

Therefore, the defense concluded in its motion, the Trial Chamber should join the two cases and order the prosecution to file a consolidated and amended indictment against the three accused.

Mico Stanisic's defense has yet to declare if he would like to be tried together with Karadzic.

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