News

Bosnian war criminal drinks poison inside court, dies

by IBNS 29 Nov 2017, 08:54 pm

Hague, Nov 30 (IBNS): A Bosnian Croat war criminal, Slobodan Praljak, who was under trial, died after drinking poison inside the court during a hearing in The Hague, media reports said.

Praljak drank the poison after hearing that his 20-year-long prison sentence was upheld by the court.

He faced trial for war crimes committed during the Bosnian war from 1992-95.

Praljak was a former commander of the Bosnian Croat forces, and was one of the six political and military leaders who were tried before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Following his death, the courtroom has been announced as a 'crime scene'.

Issuing a statement, the ICTY said that Praljak "was immediately assisted by the ICTY medical staff".

He was taken to a nearby hospital for aide, where he was declared dead.

An independent investigation has been initiated.