Той се предаде на трибунала преди три седмици, веднага след изтичането на петгодишния му президентски мандат в края на декември. Милутинович пристигна в Холандия с югославски правителствен самолет и бе откаран в ареста на трибунала на ООН в Шевенинген.
A spokeswoman for the prosecution said the two had not discussed whether he would agree to testify in the trial against Slobodan Milosevic in exchange for a reduction in charges, and that del Ponte only "explained his rights in the presence of two lawyers and informed him of the normal request from the prosecution for an interview." A former member of Slobodan Milosevic's inner circle, Milutinovic claims he was a mere figurehead, rarely involved in decision-making or operations, and with little power to exercise influence on Serb forces in Kosovo.