THE HAGUE – A Bosnian Croat military leader, who commanded forces in the Bosnian conflict of the early 1990s, has died after drinking a vial of what he called poison in court, as he was told his 20-year prison sentence would be upheld.
The death of Slobodan Praljak, a Bosnian Croat military leader, was announced by Croatian state TV. He was in court in The Hague on Wednesday trying to appeal the 2013 sentence.
The 72-year-old was convicted four years ago for war crimes in East Mostar during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.
Praljak had failed to make serious efforts to stop soldiers from rounding up Muslims in Prozor, and failed to act on information that murders and attacks on people and property in East Mostar during the war.
“Judges, I am not a war criminal, I reject the verdict with contempt,” he said after drinking. The presiding judge called for a doctor and halted the proceedings.
He also told the judge, as cited by the BBC: “I have taken poison.”
You can watch a clip of what happened below:
The moment a convicted war criminal, Slobodan Praljak, drinks ‘poison’ after judges confirmed his 20-year sentence. #SlobodanPraljak persecuted, expelled and murdered Muslims during #Bosnia’s war. pic.twitter.com/8gehjzdVuG
— DOAM (@doamuslims) November 29, 2017
The judge immediately ordered the court to be taken into private session and the proceedings were suspended, the BBC reported. The court’s live video feed also went dark shortly after the incident.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/world/butcher-of-bosnia-ratko-mladic-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/
The same tribunal last week sentenced Serbian general Ratko Mladić to life in prison for carrying out a host of war crimes, including genocide.
Wednesday’s hearing was the final case at the groundbreaking tribunal before it closes its doors next month.
