MILAN BABIC SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT

Milan Babic was born in 1956 in Kukar, in Croatia. He is married with two children, and is a dentist by profession.

In October 2001 Babic initiated contact with this Tribunal after learning that he had been named as a co-perpetrator in the Croatia Indictment issued in the case of Slobodan Miloševic in September 2001. Babic agreed to be interviewed by the Prosecution and to testify in the Miloševic case. An indictment against Babic was confirmed in November 2003. The indictment charged him with persecution, murder, cruel treatment, wanton destruction of villages or devastation not justified by military necessity, and destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to education or religion. The charges were based on events which took place in Croatian Krajina from August 1991 to February 1992.

In November 2003 Babic surrendered to the Tribunal. Two months later he filed a plea agreement jointly with the Prosecution. According to this agreement, Babic would admit to having aided and abetted the crime of persecutions, committed by a joint criminal enterprise, as charged in count 1 of the indictment. The goal of the joint criminal enterprise was the forcible permanent removal of Croat and other non-Serb populations from approximately one-third of Croatia, in order to transform the acquired territory into a Serb-dominated state through the commission of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.

Babic does not deny the seriousness of the crimes committed. Virtually the whole of the Croat and non-Serb population was expelled from the region in question, by forcible removal or by being caused to flee through fear of imminent attack. More than 200 civilians, including women and elderly persons, were murdered, and several hundred civilians were confined or imprisoned in inhumane conditions. The crime was characterized by ruthlessness and savagery and had a severe impact on victims and their relatives. Their suffering is still significant. The Trial Chamber is satisfied that Babic’s expression of remorse is sincere and constitutes a mitigating factor.

Having considered the arguments and the evidence presented by the parties, the Trial Chamber hereby sentences Milan Babic to 13 years of imprisonment. Milan Babic is entitled to credit for 211 days served in detention prior to this day. Milan Babic shall remain in the custody of the Tribunal until such time as arrangements for his transfer to the State in which he will serve his sentence have been finalized.

Source: International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia