UNITED NATIONS International Tribunal for the Case No. IT-98-34-T Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of Date: 31 March 2003 International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Former Yugoslavia since 1991 Original: English IN THE TRIAL CHAMBER Before: Judge Liu Daqun Judge Maureen Clark Judge Fatoumata Diarra Registrar: Mr. Hans Holthuis Judgement of: 31 March 2003 PROSECUTOR v. Mladen NALETILIC, aka “TUTA” And Vinko MARTINOVIC, aka “ŠTELA” JUDGEMENT The Office of the Prosecutor: Mr. Kenneth Scott Mr. Douglas Stringer Mr. Vassily Poriouvaev Mr. Roeland Bos Counsel for the Accused: Mr. Krešimir Krsnik For Mladen Naletilic Mr. Christopher Meek Mr. Branko Šeric For Vinko Martinovic Mr. Želimir Par CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 A. THE ACCUSED AND THE CHARGES ................................................................................................1 B. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE EVALUATION OF THE EVIDENCE .............................2 II. GENERAL FINDINGS................................................................................................................5 A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................5 B. THE CONFLICT IN THE AREA .......................................................................................................10 1. Sovi}i and Doljani- the attack on 17 April 1993 and the following days..............................10 2. Mostar – events between 9 May 1993 and January 1994......................................................14 3. Ra{tani- the attack on 22 September 1993.............................................................................19 4. The impact of the conflict ......................................................................................................20 C. INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUPERIOR RESPONSIBILITY ...................................20 1. The law...................................................................................................................................20 (a) Individual criminal responsibility under Article 7(1) of the Statute ..................................... 21 (b) Command or superior responsibility under Article 7(3) of the Statute................................. 22 (c) Concurrent application of Articles 7(1) and 7(3) of the Statute ........................................... 26 2. The general command structure in the Croatian Defence Council (HVO)............................27 3. The Convicts’ Battalion (KB)................................................................................................29 (a) Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 29 (b) Mladen Naletilic’s command position................................................................................ 30 (c) The units of the KB............................................................................................................ 32 (i) The mother unit KB Široki Brijeg ................................................................................... 33 (ii) Vinko Martinovic and the Vinko Škrobo ATG or Mrmak ATG ..................................... 33 (iii) The Baja Kraljevic ATG ............................................................................................... 35 (iv) The Benko Penavic ATG .............................................................................................. 37 (v) The Kruško ATG ........................................................................................................... 37 (vi) Further Members of the KB .......................................................................................... 38 (d) Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 39 4. Command position of the accused in the individual operations............................................39 (a) Sovici and Doljani ............................................................................................................. 39 (b) Mostar ............................................................................................................................... 46 (i) The command structure of the HVO in Mostar................................................................ 46 (ii) Mladen Naletilic’s command position in the operations in Mostar relevant to the Indictment .................................................................................................................... 48 a. The attack on 9 May 1993 ........................................................................................... 48 b. The attack on 17 September 1993................................................................................ 51 c. The superior-subordinate relationship .......................................................................... 52 (iii) Vinko Martinovic’s command position in the operations in Mostar relevant to the Indictment .................................................................................................................... 54 (c) Ra{tani............................................................................................................................... 55 D. REQUIREMENTS UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE STATUTE.................................................................60 1. Armed Conflict and nexus to the alleged crimes ...................................................................60 2. Character of the conflict.........................................................................................................61 (a) Direct intervention of the army of the Republic of Croatia (HV)......................................... 64 (b) Overall control exercised by the Republic of Croatia over the HVO................................... 67 3. Protected persons and property..............................................................................................69 (a) Civilians and Prisoners of war............................................................................................ 69 (b) Prisoners of war................................................................................................................. 71 (c) Occupation ........................................................................................................................ 71 E. REQUIREMENTS UNDER ARTICLE 3 OF THE STATUTE .................................................................75 F. REQUIREMENTS UNDER ARTICLE 5 OF THE STATUTE..................................................................78 III. FINDINGS ON THE RESPECTIVE COUNTS ....................................................................84 A. COUNTS 2-8: UNLAWFUL LABOUR AND HUMAN SHIELDS...........................................................84 1. The law...................................................................................................................................84 (a) Inhuman treatment, cruel treatment and inhumane acts....................................................... 84 (b) Murder and wilful killing................................................................................................... 85 (c) Unlawful labour................................................................................................................. 85 2. The findings............................................................................................................................91 (a) Detainees working for Vinko [krobo ATG......................................................................... 91 (i) Incidents on 17 September 1993 ..................................................................................... 97 a. The wooden rifles incident........................................................................................... 97 b. The use as human shields and killing of approximately 15 detainees.......................... 104 (b) Detainees working in the [anti}eva street ........................................................................ 105 (c) Detainees performing military tasks in Ra{tani................................................................. 106 (d) Detainees performing military tasks in Stotina ................................................................. 108 (e) Assisting KB members in the process of looting Muslim houses and property .................. 108 (f) Detainees working in private properties of members and commanders of the KB.............. 111 (i) “Tuta’s pool” in [iroki Brijeg ....................................................................................... 111 (ii) Construction of the private villa of Mladen Naletili} .................................................... 112 (iii) Digging of a trench in the vicinity of Mladen Naletili}’s villa ..................................... 112 (iv) Other labour performed on a private basis for members of the KB .............................. 115 a. Members of the Vinko [krobo ATG .......................................................................... 115 b. Other members of the KB.......................................................................................... 115 (g) Detainees building defences in positions of the KB, HV or HVO forces at locations other than the frontlines ..........................................................................................................