The Hague - German judge Christof Fluegge, 61, was sworn in as a permanent judge Thursday afternoon at the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) located in The Hague.

He replaces Wolfgang Schomburg who resigned from the ICTY on November 18.

Berlin-born Fluegge is an expert in criminal law for the Council of Europe and the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation.

Previously he served among others as Secretary of State at the Senate Justice Department in Berlin and as a public prosecutor.

The ICTY has 16 permanent judges elected by the UN General Assembly. (dpa)