Slobodan Praljak’s suicide was difficult to prevent because the vial was small and intrusive searches are limited, judge says

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The potassium cyanide that Bosnian Croat war criminal Slobodan Praljak used to kill himself in court could not have been detected before he drank it, said the UN tribunal’s internal inquiry, which was released on Sunday.



Praljak died in front of UN judges in the Hague in November last year, just seconds after they upheld his 20-year jail sentence for war crimes committed during Bosnia’s 1990s conflict. The 72-year-old was taken to hospital, where he died the same day.

Bosnian Croat war criminal dies after taking poison in UN courtroom Read more

“There are no measures that would have guaranteed detection of the poison at any stage,” Justice Hassan Jallow said in a statement.

The international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) launched the inquiry in December to shed light on how Praljak managed to smuggle toxic liquid into the courtroom and kill himself on 29 November.

Preliminary results released following an autopsy showed the Bosnian Croat commander died from heart failure after swallowing potassium cyanide during a court hearing that was broadcast live around the world.

“My review has not exposed any gaps or flaws in the ICTY legal framework with regard to the treatment of detainees at the UNDU [United Nations detention unit] and the ICTY premises” at the Hague, Jallow said. “The small size of the object, the limitations in the rules on intrusive searches, and the nature of the screening equipment available at both the UNDU and the ICTY premises all contributed to making it difficult to detect the contraband.”

Dutch prosecutors are still trying to determine how Praljak was able to obtain the vial of poison and bring it into court.

“It is not possible to conclusively state when and how the poison came into Mr Praljak’s possession,” the judge said. “It is important to note at the outset that there was no intelligence available to UNDU staff or ICTY staff in general, indicating that Mr Praljak was in possession of the poison,” he added.

In his report, Jallow also issued recommendations on search practices and training courses for security personnel to be shared with other courts.

Since Praljak’s death, Croats have repeatedly paid tribute to the late general, laying flowers and lighting candles in town squares in Croatia and Bosnia.

Praljak, who worked in film and theatre before joining the military, remains a hero to many Croats despite his conviction.

About 2,000 people filled the main concert hall where his memorial was held this month, while hundreds more crowded into the building’s entry and hallways to watch on giant screens.