Press Release . Communiqué de presse
(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)

The Hague, 2 December 2004
CVO/P.I.S./919

ORDER TO RELEASE MARIO CERKEZ

Today, 2 December 2004, the Appeals Chamber consisting of Judge Schomburg (Presiding), Judge Pocar, Judge Mumba, Judge Güney and Judge Weinberg de Roca ordered the "immediate release" of Mario Cerkez. The full reasons for this Order will be given in the Judgement which will be rendered on 17 December 2004 at 2.15 p.m. in the case The Prosecutor v. Dario Kordic and Mario Cerkez.

The Appeals Chamber considered that "Mario Cerkez’s sentence has to be revised". Mario Cerkez was sentenced to a term of 15 years' imprisonment for the crimes of which he was found guilty by the Trial Chamber on 26 February 2001 (see Press Release 567-e). He has been in custody of the ICTY since his voluntary surrender on 6 October 1997.

In its Order the Appeals Chamber instructs the Registrar to take all the necessary measures for the release of Mario Cerkez and orders the Registrar to enable Mario Cerkez – if he so wishes- to be present when the Judgement will be delivered.

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The full text of the Appeals Chamber’s Order will be available on the Tribunal’s website www.un.org/icty in due course.
Hard copies can also be obtained from the Press Office.