Cases

Simatović, Franko
Stanišić, Jovica

STANIŠIĆ and SIMATOVIĆ (MICT-15-96)

Trial

Jovica Stanišić was the Head of the State Security Service (“DB”) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia (“MUP”).

Franko Simatović was employed in the Second administration of the DB of the MUP.

Both accused were acquitted of all charges by an ICTY Trial chamber on 30 May 2013.

On 15 December 2015, the ICTY Appeals Chamber ordered that Stanišić and Simatović be retried on all counts of the indictment.

Recent developments: The trial commenced before the Mechanism on 13 June 2017. The Prosecution case was closed on 21 February 2019. A total of 51 witnesses were heard in court for the Prosecution. On 9 April 2019, the Trial Chamber issued an oral decision pursuant to Rule 121 of the Mechanism’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence and dismissed the motion for acquittal filed by the Defence team for Franko Simatović. The Defence case commenced on 18 June 2019 with the presentation of an opening statement by the Defence team for Jovica Stanišić.

Mladić, Ratko

MLADIĆ, Ratko (MICT-13-56)

Appeal

On 12 May 1992, Ratko Mladić was appointed Commander of the Main Staff of the army of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“VRS”). He remained in command of the VRS Main Staff until at least 8 November 1996.

Sentenced by an ICTY Trial Chamber to life imprisonment on 22 November 2017.

On 18 December 2017, Ratko Mladić filed a motion seeking an extension of time to file his notice of appeal against the ICTY Trial Judgment.

On 12 September 2018, after Judge Nyambe’s election as the Presiding Judge in this case, she was designated as the Pre-Appeal Judge. On 14 November 2018, both parties filed their respective response briefs and on 29 November 2018, their respective reply briefs.

Recent developments:

The appeal hearing in the case took place on 25 and 26 August 2020 at the Mechanism's Hague branch.

On 18 February 2021, the President assigned Judge Mustapha El Baaj to replace Judge Kam on the appeals bench in this case after his unfortunate passing.

Turinabo, Maximilien
Ngirabatware, Augustin
Ndagijimana, Jean de Dieu
Munyeshuli, Dick Prudence
Fatuma, Marie Rose
Nzabonimpa, Anselme

TURINABO, Maximilien et al. (MICT-18-116)

Trial

On 24 August 2018, Judge Seon Ki Park confirmed an Indictment against Maximilien Turinabo, Anselme Nzabonimpa, Jean de Dieu Ndagijimana, Marie Rose Fatuma, and Dick Prudence Munyeshuli, dated 5 June 2018 and submitted by Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, for contempt of court and incitement to commit contempt, pursuant to Article 1(4)(a) of the Mechanism’s Statute (Statute) and Rule 90 of the Mechanism’s Rules of Procedure and Evidence (Rules).

On 10 October 2019, Judge Vagn Joensen confirmed an Indictment against Augustin Ngirabatware, dated 9 August 2019 and submitted by Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, for contempt of court and incitement to commit contempt, pursuant to Article 1(4)(a) of the Statute and Rule 90 of the Rules. Each of the six accused has pleaded not guilty to the respective count or counts charged against him or her.

Each of the six accused has pleaded not guilty to the respective count or counts charged against him or her. On 10 December 2019, Judge Vagn Joensen issued a decision that the Turinabo et al. and Ngirabatware contempt cases would be joined and prosecuted on the basis of the two separate Indictments.

The joined trial commenced on 22 October 2020 with the Prosecution’s opening statement. In addition, the Defence teams for Dick Prudence Munyeshuli and Augustin Ngirabatware elected to give opening statements, and Maximilien Turinabo also gave a statement in accordance with Rule 101 of the Rules. Nine Prosecution witnesses testified between 26 October and 24 November 2020.

Recent developments: On 12 February 2021, Judge Vagn Joensen issued an order scheduling Defence oral arguments for judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 121 of the Rules to commence on Monday, 8 March 2021. The Prosecution presents its response on 9 March 2021. The same order scheduled the Pre-Defence conference for Friday, 12 March 2021, and Monday, 15 March 2021 for Defence opening statements and the presentation of evidence.

MAXIMILIEN TURINABO

Turinabo was, at different stages during the Ngirabatware case before the ICTR (Case No. ICTR-99-54), a Defence contact person in the Gisenyi area.

AUGUSTIN NGIRABATWARE

In July 1990, Ngirabatware was appointed Minister of Planning, a position he retained as part of the Interim Rwandan Government in April 1994. He was also a member of the Prefecture Committee of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (“MRND”) political party in Gisenyi Prefecture, the National Committee of the MRND, and the technical committee of Nyamyumba Commune.

JEAN DE DIEU NDAGIJIMANA

Ndagijimana was a teacher and school administrator in the Gisenyi area before mid-1994, including at Kiloji and Bwitereke schools.

DICK PRUDENCE MUNYESHULI

Munyeshuli served as a defence investigator on a number of cases before the ICTR and the Mechanism. From approximately August 2015 until January 2018, he was an investigator on the defence team of Augustin Ngirabatware.

MARIE ROSE FATUMA

Fatuma is the widow of Augustin Ngirabatware’s half-brother Édouard Byukusenge, also known as “Cenge”.

ANSELME NZABONIMPA

Nzabonimpa was the bourgemestre of Kayove Commune, Gisenyi Prefecture, Rwanda, before mid-1994.

Recent developments: A hearing on the Pre-Trial in the case has taken place on 22nd of October 2020 in the Mechanism's Arusha Branch.

Kabuga, Félicien

KABUGA, Félicien (MICT-13-38)

Pre-trial

Félicien Kabuga was the President of the Comité Provisoire of the Fonds de défense nationale (“National Defence Fund”) from about 25 April 1994 to July 1994 and President of the Comité d’Initiative of Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (“RTLM”) during the time of the crimes pleaded in the indictment.

Recent developments: Kabuga was transferred to the Mechanism’s custody on 26 October 2020. His initial appearance took place on 11 November 2020, during which a plea of not guilty was entered with respect to the charges in the indictment.