The Trial Chamber with Judge Robinson presiding decided today ‘in the interest of justice’ to discuss in public the reasons why former Serbian state security service chief failed to show once again at the scheduled opening of the trial. The health issues of the accused are usually discussed in closed session


After Jovica Stanisic again failed to appear in the courtroom, the Trial Chamber decided today in the interest of justice to discuss the reasons for his absence from the scheduled opening of the trial in public session.

Presiding judge Patrick Robinson read the report of Dr. Falke, physician in the UN Detention Unit, stating that Jovica Stanisic suffers from osteoporosis, kidney stones and pouchitis, an inflammation of the small intestine. The report goes on to say that the accused suffers from deep depression and is receiving treatment, which will have to continue as some of the roots of his depression are of a permanent nature. Stanisic was examined yesterday by a gastroenterologist but his report was not ready for the hearing today.

Because of those health problems Dr Falke found that Jovica Stanisic was not able to attend the hearing and it was not possible to say when he would be able to appear in court. Judge Robinson noticed that the accused Simatovic didn’t sign a form waiving his right to attend hearings. Thus, the opening of the trial of the former chief of Serbian state security and Franko Simatovic, his former deputy, was postponed for Tuesday, 1 April 2008, in hope that the accused would recover until then.

The Trial Chamber today ordered the Registry to find an independent psychiatrist who would examine Stanisic in the meantime and file his report by 31 March 2008. The gastroenterologist’s report and the weekly update from UN Detention Unit medical officer are also due on that date.

Stanisic and Simatovic are charged with crimes in Croatia and BH from 1991 to 1995 committed by the police and paramilitary forces from Serbia.

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