Cancer-stricken Hague defendant denied temporary release

Cancer-stricken Hague defendant denied temporary release

THE HAGUE -- The Hague-based Hague Tribunal (ICTY) has rejected the motion of Goran Hadzic's defense for his provisional release on humanitarian grounds.

The defense requested that the former political leader of Serbs in Croatia be temporarily released from custody "for 12 or more weeks of medical treatment in Serbia."

The defense motion said that Serbia had provided all the necessary guarantees, and that Hadzic, who has brain cancer in the final stages, did not pose a flight risk.

Arguing against the motion, the prosecution pointed out that Hadzic had not voluntarily surrender himself to the custody of the Tribunal and had evaded arrest for seven years.

The decision, made on March 13, also said that the experts concluded that the accused had all the necessary and adequate medical care in the Hague.

Hadzic stands accused before the tribunal over allegedly committing crimes against humanity and violation of the laws or customs of war in Croatia from 1991 to 1995.

He was arrested in northern Serbia and extradited to the ICTY in July 2011, where he pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment.

Hadzic's trial begun on October 16, 2012.