Two witnesses testify in former KLA member's trial

During today's trial hearing for the freedom deprivation of Haxhi Pertesh from Duhla in Suhareka, who was later found dead in June 1998, first testified to Ferat Shala, known as the nickname “Placu”.

At the start of the Prizren Court Court, the witness said he is missing the reason he was invited to the Court and who called him.

The State Attorney then clarified the reason and asked him to tell only the truth when the questions were asked.

Still not starting questions, Czech witness Shala remembered nothing.

Asked if he knew the soldier by the nickname “Red Apple”, Ferat Shala said he heard of this nickname but that he knew very little.

The other witness, Shaban Shukoli, related how he already knew the deceased, Hagi Pertesh.

He said that as a young man, about 20 years old, he has been associated with Haxhi with work.

“We have been working on selling wood about 20 years together. During this time, we had good reports. When we stopped working on wood, Haxhiu had boys on his face and had better conditions than I did, while I continued the woodwork”, the witness said.

He said Haxhiu was very good as a friend.

Shaban Shukoli said he heard in the village that Hadzi was taken, but I don't know who took him and felt sorry for the deceased now.

None of the witnesses remembered who was head of the village at the time.

While the accused claimed to have seen him for the first time at the Court today, they have heard of him, that they have recognised him only through nickname “Red Apple”.

The Special Prosecutor on October 19, 2016, filed charges against Remzi Shala for war crimes against the civilian population.

According to the indictment filed by local prosecutor Haki Gecaj, Remzi Shala is charged that in June 1998, along with several other KLA members have been deprived of the Haji Pertesh freedom, which several days later has been found dead near the street in the village of Dudhil.

The indictment states that Remzi Shala-“Red” armed with long arms and Kosovo Liberation Army uniform, along with 5-6 members of this armed army with masks on their faces and unidentified until now, on June 26, 1998, about 23:00 because of the suspicion that Haxhi Perteshi is co-operating with Serb forces, have gone to his home, deprived him of freedom.

After being held several days in an unidentified location on July 1, 1998, Haxhi Pertesh's lifeless body has been found near the road near the centre of the village of Duhatl”, the Special Prosecutor's Actic device reported.

The act against Remzi Shala, known as “The Red Moll”, emerged after his denouncing by Agron Pertesh, son of Haxhi Pertesh.

In the Kosovo “Justice Show“, Remzi Shala denied having links to the freedom deprivation of Haxhi Pertesh in June 1998.