UN judges overturn Seselj acquittal, sentence him to 10 years, ‘time served’

UN war crimes judges on Wednesday imposed a prison sentence of 10 years on Serbian nationalist politician Vojislav Seselj, overturning an earlier acquittal on charges of persecution, deportation and inhumane acts, Reuters said. Seselj, a close wartime ally of then Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, has already served 12 years in pre-trial detention. In March 2016, Seselj was acquitted of nine war crimes and crimes against humanity charges after a trial lasting more than eight years at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Presiding judge Theodor Meron said Wednesday that the Serbian MP’s jail time “has been served.” The ruling could be appealed.