The Prosecutor v. Mladen Naletilić and Vinki Martinović

Case Sheet · ICTY

The Prosecutor v. Mladen Naletilić and Vinki Martinović

Location Bosnia and Herzegovina
Case Number IT-98-34
Case Name "Tuta and Štela"
Status Closed · Sentence Served 

Context

Mladen Naletilić was the founder and commander of the Bosnian Croat “Kažnjenička Bojna” (Convicts’ Battalion), a 200 to 300-strong body of soldiers based around Mostar in south-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vinki Martinović was the commander of the “Mrmak” or “Vinko Škrobo” unit of the Convicts’ Battalion and subordinate to Mladen Naletilić.

Pre-Trial

Initial Indictment 21 December 1998
Amended IndictmenTS 28 November 2000
16 October 2001
Crimes Charged
Mladen Naletilić
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS
Torture or inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS
Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS
Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly · art. 2(d) ICTYS
Unlawful transfer of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Unlawful labor · art. 3 ICTYS
Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS
Seizure of, destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion · 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 torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS

Vinki Martinović
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS
Torture or inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS
Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS
Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly · art. 2(d) ICTYS
Unlawful transfer of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Unlawful labor · art. 3 ICTYS
Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS
Seizure of, destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion · 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 torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS
Arrest and Transfer Mladen Naletilić
18 October 1999 · Arrested by Croatia · Transferred to ICTY 21 March 2000

Vinki Martinović
9 August 1999 · Arrested by Croatia · Transferred to ICTY 9 August 1999
Initial Appearance Mladen Naletilić
24 March 2000 · Plea: Not Guilty 

Vinki Martinović
12 August 1999 · Plea: Not Guilty

Trial

Trial Chamber Trial Chamber I · Judges: Judge Liu Daqun (presiding), Judge Maureen Harding Clark, Judge Fatoumata Diarra
Trial Opening 10 September 2001
Trial Judgment 31 March 2003
Crimes at Trial Judgment
Mladen Naletilić
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS
Unlawful transfer of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Unlawful labor · art. 3 ICTYS
Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS
Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS

Vinki Martinović
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS
Torture or inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS
Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS
Unlawful transfer of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Unlawful labor · art. 3 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 persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS
Sentencing Judgment Mladen Naletilić
20 years of imprisonment

Vinki Martinović
18 years of imprisonment

Appeal

Appeals Chamber Appeals Chamber · Judges: Judge Fausto Pocar (presiding), Judge Wolfgang Schomburg, Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Judge Mehmet Güney, Judge Andrésia Vaz
Appeals Filed By Both
Appeal Judgment 3 May 2006
Crimes at Appeal Judgment
Mladen Naletilić
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS
Unlawful transfer of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Unlawful labor · art. 3 ICTYS
Wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity · art. 3(b) ICTYS
Plunder of public or private property · art. 3(e) ICTYS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS

Vinki Martinović
Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
Wilful killing · art. 2(a) ICTYS
Torture or inhuman treatment · art. 2(b) ICTYS
Wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health · art. 2(c) ICTYS
Unlawful transfer of a civilian · art. 2(g) ICTYS
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Unlawful labor · art. 3 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 persecution · art. 5(h) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS
Final Sentence Mladen Naletilić
20 years of imprisonment

Vinki Martinović
18 years of imprisonment
Transfer to Serve Sentence Mladen Naletilić
24 April 2008 · Italy
29 November 2012 · Early release

Vinki Martinović
9 May 2008 · Italy
16 December 2011 · Early release

Key Documents

Amended Indictment Amended Indictment (2001)
Trial Judgment Trial Judgment (2003)
Appeal Judgment Appeal Judgment (2006)
ICTY Case Page Official ICTY page