• Salih Mustafa

    KSC-BC-2020-05/KSC-CA-2023-02
    Appeal
    Salih Mustafa was the Commander of a BIA guerrilla unit, which operated within the Llap Operational Zone of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The indictment charges him with crimes committed by certain KLA members against persons detained at the detention compound in the village of Zllash, located in the Gollak region in Kosovo. The evidentiary proceedings in this case were closed on 20 June 2022 and the closing statements took place from 13 until 15 September 2022. The trial judgment was pronounced on 16 December 2022: The Trial Panel found the accused guilty of the war crimes of arbitrary detention, torture and murder and sentenced him to a prison sentence of 26 years. There were 8 participating victims in this case. The reparation order in respect of victims was pronounced on 6 April 2023: The Trial Panel ordered Mustafa to pay an overall sum of €207,000 as compensation for the harm inflicted on the victims of the crimes for which he is convicted. On 2 February 2023, Mustafa's Defence filed (confidentially) its notice of appeal against the judgment. The latest redacted version of the corrected Defence’s appeal brief was filed on 15 September 2023. The appeal hearing took place on 26 and 27 October 2023. The appeal judgment is scheduled to be pronounced on 14 December 2023.
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  • Hashim Thaçi et al.

    KSC-BC-2020-06
    Trial
    The case involves four alleged former senior officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army: Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The indictment states that the crimes charged were committed from at least March 1998 through September 1999 and took place in several locations across Kosovo as well as in Kukës and Cahan, in Northern Albania. On 10 May 2022, during their further appearances, all four accused pleaded not guilty to the new charges in the amended indictment. On 15 December 2022, the Pre-Trial Judge transmitted the case file to Trial Panel II. The trial preparation conference took place on 18 January 2023, followed by the Specialist Prosecutor's Preparation Conference on 15 February. The trial commenced on 3 April 2023 with the opening statements of the Specialist Prosecutor and the Victims' counsel, followed by the Defence teams on 4 and 5 April 2023. There are 143 participating victims in this case.
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  • Sabit Januzi & Ismet Bahtijari

    KSC-BC-2023-10
    Pre-trial
    Sabit Januzi and Ismet Bahtijari were arrested in Kosovo on 5 October and transferred to the KSC Detention Unit on 6 October 2023. At the initial appearance on 9 October 2023, both accused pleaded not guilty to all charges in the indictment.
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  • Pjetër Shala

    KSC-BC-2020-04
    Trial
    Pjetër Shala was allegedly a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) stationed in Kukёs, Albania. The alleged crimes with which Shala is charged with took place between approximately 17 May 1999 and 5 June 1999 against persons detained at the Kukёs Metal Factory in Albania, allegedly used by the KLA. On 21 September 2022, the Pre-Trial Judge transmitted the case file to Trial Panel I. The trial commenced on 21 February and the SPO closed its case on 6 July 2023. On 21 August 2023, the Victims' Counsel presented evidence. The Defence Preparation Conference took place on 24 and 25 August 2023. On 15 September 2023, the Panel denied the Defence motion to dismiss the charge of murder (count 4), pursuant to Rule 130 of the KSC Rules of Procedure and Evidence. The Defence case commenced on 20 September 2023. There are 8 participating victims in this case.
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  • Hysni Gucati & Nasim Haradinaj

    KSC-BC-2020-07/KSC-CA-2022-01/KSC-SC-2023-01
    Enforcement of sentence
    The trial judgment was pronounced on 18 May 2022, finding both accused guilty and sentencing them to four and a half years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100 EUR each. Both Gucati and Haradinaj filed their appeals while the SPO informed that it does not intend to appeal the trial judgment. The appeal judgment was pronounced on 2 February 2023: the sentence reduced to 4 years and 3 months of imprisonment and a fine of 100 EUR. On 2 and 3 May 2023, respectively, Haradinaj and Gucati filed their requests for protection of legality pursuant to Article 48(6) to (8) of the Law and Rule 193 of the Rules. On 18 September 2023, the Supreme Court Panel rejected both requests for protection of legality. On 12 October 2023, the KSC President Ekaterina Trendafilova decided to modify Hysni Gucati’s sentence and he was released on 17 October 2023. As for Nasim Haradinaj, the President decided she would consider modification of his sentence after receipt of a report from the KSC Registrar on Haradinaj’s behaviour while at the KSC Detention Facilities.
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