The Prosecutor v. Dario Kordić and Mario Čerkez
Case Sheet · ICTY
The Prosecutor v. Dario Kordić and Mario Čerkez
| Location | Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Case Number | IT-95-14/2 |
| Case Name | ''Lašva Valley'' |
| Status | Closed · Sentence Served |
Context
Dario Kordić was one of the leading political figures in the Bosnian Croat community: from 1991 until 1995, President of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HDZ- BiH); from 1992 until 1995, Vice-President and a member of the Presidency of the Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna (HZ H-B) and later the Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna (HR H-B)
Mario Čerkez was a commander of the Vitez Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) from its formation in 1992 until at least the end of May 1993, and during the HDZ-BiH/HVO takeover of the municipal functions within the municipality of Vitez
Pre-Trial
| Initial Indictment | 10 November 1995 |
| Amended Indictment(s) | 30 September 1998 |
| Crimes Charged | Dario Kordić Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS Extensive destruction of property · art. 2(d) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Murder · art. 3 ICTYS Deliberate attack on the civilian population and individual civilians · art. 3 ICTYS Outrages upon the personal dignity · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS Mario Čerkez Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS Extensive destruction of property · art. 2(d) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Murder · art. 3 ICTYS Deliberate attack on the civilian population and individual civilians · art. 3 ICTYS Outrages upon the personal dignity · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS |
| Surrendered | 6 October 1997 |
| Initial Appearance | 8 October 1997 · Plea: Not Guilty |
Trial
| Trial Chamber | Trial Chamber III · Judges: Judge Richard May (presiding), Judge Mohamed Bennouna, Judge Patrick Robinson |
| Trial Opening | 12 April 1999 |
| Trial Judgment | 26 February 2001 |
| Crimes at Trial Judgment | Dario Kordić Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Unlawful confinement of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Unlawful attack on civilians · art. 3 ICTYS Unlawful attack on civilian objects · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Unlawful confinement of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS Taking civilians as hostages · art. 2(h) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Unlawful attack on civilians · art. 3 ICTYS Unlawful attack on civilian objects · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS |
| Sentencing Judgment | Dario Kordić 25 years of imprisonment Mario Čerkez 15 years of imprisonment |
Appeal
| Appeals Chamber | Appeals Chamber · Judges: Judge Wolfgang Schomburg (presiding), Judge Fausto Pocar , Judge Florence Mumba, Judge Mehmet Güney, Judge Inés Mónica Weinberg De Roca |
| Appeals Filed By | Both |
| Appeal Judgment | 17 December 2004 |
| Crimes at Appeal Judgment | Dario Kordić Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS Inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS Unlawful confinement of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS Violations of the laws or customs of war Unlawful attack on civilians · art. 3 ICTYS Unlawful attack on civilian objects · art. 3 ICTYS Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS Destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education · art. 3(d) ICTYS Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 Unlawful confinement of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS Crimes against humanityCrime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS |
| Final Sentence | Dario Kordić 25 years of imprisonment Mario Čerkez 6 years of imprisonment |
| Transfer to Serve Sentence | Dario Kordić 8 June 2006 · Austria Mario Čerkez Credit given for time served |
Key Documents
| Initial Indictment | Initial Indictment (1995) |
| Trial Judgment | Trial Judgment (2001) |
| Appeal Judgment | Appeal Judgment (2004) |
| ICTY Case Page | Official ICTY page |