ICTY indicts Croatian journalist for publishing names of protected witnesses

The 'protected' witness list was public until August 22, 2006. Margetic published the list on July 23, 2006, and removed the list on August 2, 2006; therefore, he committed no crime.  Del Ponte is abusing her power to silence one of her top critics. 

United Nations: Please stop the blatant injustice of  Carla Del Ponte.


Agence France Presse

September 11, 2006

ICTY indicts Croatian journalist for publishing names of protected witnesses

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Monday made public an indictment against a Croatian journalist accused of being in contempt of court by publishing the names of 102 protected witnesses.

Domagoj Margetic risks up to seven years in prison or a fine of 100,000 euros (130,000 dollars) for failing to respect an injunction not to divulge the names of protected witnesses in the trial of former Bosnian Croat General Tihomir Blaskic in 1997.

According to the ICTY prosecutor, Margetic made the names of the witnesses available on his website.

He was arrested in early August in Croatia at the ICTY's request, but released soon afterwards on grounds of ill health.

Another Croatian journalist, Josip Jovic, was hit with a 20,000 euro fine in late August for publishing the name and extracts from the testimony of one protected witness in Blaskic's trial -- current Croatian president Stipe Mesic.