The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, have found Haxhi Shala, Sabit Januzi and Ismet Bahtijari guilty and sentenced them on charges of obstruction of justice. The trial panel accepted the plea agreement that the defendants had previously reached with the Specialist Prosecution Office.
Shala was sentenced to three years in prison, while Bahtijari and Januzi were sentenced to two years in prison.
At the start of the hearing, the three defendants stated that they have agreed to pay a total of 500 euros in compensation to the victim in this case, identified only as "victim 01". According to the agreement, Shala will pay 400 euros, Januzi 100, while Bahtijari will not pay any compensation. This amount must be paid to the victim by February 19.
Shala, Januzi and Bahtijari pleaded guilty to witness intimidation and obstruction of justice, after reaching a plea agreement with the Specialized Prosecution Office in late December 2024.
In their plea agreement with the Prosecution, Shala agreed to a sentence of up to three years in prison, Januzi to a sentence of 24 to 30 months, while Bahtijari agreed that, if the court sentences him to two years in prison or less, he will not have the right to appeal the decision.
All three were accused of colluding to persuade a witness not to testify before the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, also known as the Special Court.
It was not made known which witness was involved, nor in which case he was expected to testify.
Bahtijari and Januzi were arrested in October 2023, while Shala in December 2023. The time spent in detention at the Special Court in The Hague since then will be credited towards serving their sentence.
What does the indictment say about Shala, Januzi and Bahtijari?
The indictment confirmed for the three defendants on July 10, 2023, states that between April 5 and 12, 2023, Haxhi Shala, along with Sabit Januzi and Ismet Bahtijari, contacted a witness.
More specifically, according to the indictment, Ismet Bahtijari paid a visit to the witness at his home on April 5th, while Sabit Jonuzi paid a visit on April 12th.
The indictment further states that the witness was asked to withdraw his testimony and was offered benefits in exchange.
The group crime, according to the Prosecution, was committed under the direction of Haxhi Shala.
Meanwhile, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers have so far issued two verdicts for obstruction of justice.
Two former figures of the KLA Veterans Organization, Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, have been convicted of obstruction of justice so far.
Meanwhile, on December 6, 2024, the Special Court in The Hague confirmed a new indictment against former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, as well as against four other individuals for criminal offenses related to "allegations of unlawful attempts to influence the testimonies of witnesses in the war crimes trial of Thaçi and others."
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers said that the indictment was confirmed against Hashim Thaçi, former Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi, former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency Bashkim Smakaj, former mayor of Malisheva Isni Kilaj, and Fadil Fazliu.
The Special Chamber has also issued two verdicts for war crimes.
The Specialist Court was established in 2015 by the Kosovo Assembly and is part of the Kosovo judicial system, but operates with international personnel and is headquartered in The Hague.
The Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office investigate alleged crimes committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army against ethnic minorities and political rivals from January 1998 to December 2000.
Currently, several court cases are being heard in the Specialist Chambers, including the case against former KLA leaders – Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi – who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
