Archives for November 2009

25 November 2009 The United Nations tribunal set up to deal with the worst war crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s has ordered that the trial of Serbian Radical Party leader Vojislav Šešelj, which had been adjourned in February amid allegations that witnesses had been intimidated, resume on 12 January 2010.The Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) decided yesterday to reconsider its decision for adjournment, because of what it said were new facts that had emerged, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.

Mr. Šešelj has pleaded not guilty to nine charges, including murder, torture and persecution, relating to his alleged role in an ethnic cleansing campaign in the Vojvodina region of Serbia between 1991 and 1993.In July he was given a 15-month jail term after the ICTY found him guilty, in a separate trial, of contempt of court for publishing the names of three protected witnesses in his war crimes trial in a book he wrote. He said he did not reveal the witnesses’ names with the intention of intimidating them, but rather to “unmask a plot in public” regarding some events in the indictment for his war crimes trial.But the Tribunal said it was gravely concerned with “the deliberate way in which the protective measure decisions” concerning the witnesses had been defied by Mr. Šešelj.

Local Internet providers say they would have helped police crack down on child pornography with or without a new law.The proposed legislation the federal government introduced Tuesday makes it mandatory for Internet providers to report any tips they receive about child pornography on websites.Internet suppliers, including providers of e-mail, content hosting and social networking sites, would have to notify police and safeguard evidence if they believe a child pornography offence was committed using one of their services.

From our point of view, they didn't need to introduce one piece of legislation," said Dave McCarthy, owner of St. Catharines-based Vaxxine Computer Systems."If it's anything related to somebody with a website running on our system and we get wind of it, we'd be the first to contact police and assist them in any way, shape or form.As for any privacy issues raised, McCarthy said that doesn't apply to child pornography.

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City police officers assisted with an investigation which led to the arrest of a man on charges alleging prostitution and rape of a minor.Scott Wilson, 40, of 7 Cinnamon Ridge, Somersworth, is being held on $500,000 bail, following his Thursday arraignment on felony charges of prostitution, aggravated felonious sexual assault and felonious sexual assault.

Somersworth Police Capt. David Kretschmar said Wilson was arrested at his home without incident and the investigation remains active.Portsmouth police assisted with its Internet Crimes Against Children task force, said Police Capt. Corey MacDonald, adding he could not comment further on the federal case. According to police, the investigation began in November and also involved the Strafford County Attorney's office and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.

As Domestic Violence Awareness Week gets underway, police are urging the victims of domestic violence to come forward and not suffer in silence.A series of events will be taking place in Bristol to highlight the problem and support more victims.Det Insp Dave Grimstead from Avon and Somerset police said.Domestic violence is a serious crime and can escalate within the home as well as within the community. In nearly half of all child homicides there is a background of domestic abuse in the home prior to this.

In addition, almost one in five domestic abusers go on to commit offences against their next partner and offenders are likely to offend outside the home as well.To raise awareness police are launching a card with key facts and figures as well as the contact details for the police and Crimestoppers.DI Grimstead said: "People sometimes suspect their neighbour, colleague, friend or relative has become a victim of domestic violence but don't think it is their place to interfere.

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Crime on campus, whether it be theft or homicide, is a reality that colleges and universities have to be aware of and prepared for. Looking at the recently issued Clery Report, it appears that Missouri Western has a handle on crime.The Clery Report is a yearly report disclosing crime statistics and information about college and universities for the prior three years. The report came out of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, named after a 19-year-old student from Pennsylvania who was raped and murdered in a campus residence hall in 1986. Since 1990, all colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs are required to issue the report.

According to this year’s Clery Report, Western had a total of 109 crimes from 2006-2008, plus 103 arrests and 171 referrals for liquor law, drug law and weapons law violations. Of those crimes, the most frequent was burglary, a total of 94. Other crimes committed include seven motor vehicle thefts, four aggravated assaults, one robbery and two non-forcible sexual offenses.From the perspective of University Police Chief Jon Kelley, the statistics of the Clery Report show that Western is a relatively safe campus devoid of the more serious crimes larger campuses deal with.

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The US envoy for war crimes has appeared at the International Criminal Court for the first time.Stephen Rapp spoke as an observer at the court's annual meeting in the Hague, saying the US was keen to better understand the workings of the court.The US has in the past refused to join the ICC, which was set up in 2002 to try individuals for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

The court can only try people from countries which have ratified it.Despite the US refusal to ratify the court, Mr Rapp said the country had "not been silent in the face of crimes against the basic code of humanity. "Far from it: We have worked shoulder to shoulder with other states to support accountability and end impunity for hauntingly brutal crimes in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and elsewhere.

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The economic downturn has caused a global upsurge in accounting fraud and induced more middle managers to commit economic crimes, according to a study released Thursday by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.The Global Economic Crime Survey, which surveyed 3,037 corporate employees in 54 countries in conjunction with the Fontainebleau, France-based INSEAD Business School, also found that fraud was more prevalent in companies with high-variable, performance-based pay schemes for senior executives.

If would-be fraudsters see that the bosses are taking out unfair, arguably-obscene amounts of money, it creates an environment that probably unwittingly attracts fraudsters from the inside," said Tony Parton, the London-based PwC partner who spearheaded the report. Mr. Parton said there was a correlation between instances of fraud and "the tone at the top.

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Hundreds of people are investigated every year in the Sacramento Valley in connection with alleged Internet crimes against children. Detective James Williams, of the Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, told KCRA 3 online predators are getting bolder and more graphic in their desires.

They get bored with old stuff. They want to see new victims, he said. Larry Brown of the U.S. attorney's office said "the Internet has contributed dramatically to the exploitation of children. Five years ago, the Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force performed only one child sex crime investigation involving cell phones and the Internet. This year, authorities have already done 100 such investigations.

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The Inspectorate of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has installed a toll free line for members of the public who are turned away at police stations.The number 1-888-429-5523 may also be used by persons who wish to make complaints about problems they encounter while at the facilities.The toll free line was installed over the weekend.

The police are reminding citizens that reports on any incident can be made at any police station regardless of where the incident took place.The public is also being reminded that they should not be re-directed elsewhere to report a matter.The police have said persons who make a report should ensure they receive a receipt from the police personnel taking the report. 

Iran has moved to block the last remaining outlet of expression for the country's political opposition with the launch of a special force to police the internet. A 12-member team reporting to the chief prosecutor will scour websites with a view to pressing charges against those judged to be "spreading lies" and "insults" against the Islamic system. Members will include police and personnel from other, unspecified, parts of Iran's security apparatus.The move is seen as partly targeting Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the two defeated reformist candidates in June's disputed presidential election, as well as political activists.

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