Police Director: Karaja was not suspended because of Maxhun's son

Police official Africa Karadza has not been suspended for publishing information about the son of the AKI chief, but because of access to the data system without permission.

These statements were made by Kosovo Police Director Rashit Qalaj during his report to the Interior Commission today, where Minister of Internal Affairs Ekrem Mustafa reported to me.

Asked by MPs for the reason of the police official's suspension, Qalaj has said the data system is considered classified information.

The suspended “polic had access to the system, which he reasoned was perfectly normal since he entered and verified for a person at the request of patrol on the ground. In one case, however, the entrance he made in 18 seconds could not reason on, and later on my personal request, the investigation by the Police Inspectorate began on the concrete case. And it's suspected and suspected, but I can also say it's been found that the person in question has intervened and extracted information from the system, from the database that is unauthorized intervention in the classified system. That's why he's suspended and not the matter why he's out, but access to the system that we consider to be classified” information, he said.

The first of the Kosovo Police, during its report, has said the main focus for 2019 is fighting corruption and organised crime.

He has also spoken of the need to increase the number of policemen in the Special Units, where he has warned that they will do so next year.

“We have started with increasing the capabilities of the country's rapid reaction units. Three weeks ago, we've raised capacity per cent, meaning 105 officials of the country's rapid reaction units have increased. And we've also started growing the capabilities of special units and special intervention units. Since, after the tests we've done, we've found that the actual number is insufficient for performing operational work in various situations that can be presented to us, and it is our goal to double the number of special units by the end of next year. In order to have sufficient operational capacity for unforeseen situations at the country level and manage the best possible way”, he said.

Qalaj said this is a process that requires investment in equipment, cars, but according to him that is necessary.

While Kosovo failed to membership in Interpol this year, Qalaj said they have not yet decided whether to apply for membership in this security organisation next year, while giving the reasons for this dilemma.

For the next year we are still in the analysis phase whether we will apply, as it is kept in a state that is unconcilable for Kosovo, is a very distant state and we are together with our partners to discuss whether we will apply or not. Either way, we shouldn't stop, we have to make numerous contacts in terms of security, I'm considering that the Kosovo diplomacy too must be done, too”, he said.

On the other hand, Interior Affairs Minister Ekrem Mustafa has suggested that the main objective of his work is to prevent and fight corruption and organised crime.

“Among my objectives as minister will be to prevent and combat corruption, organised crime, including narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, economic crime. We will fight nepotism, pay attention to combating cybercrime. I'm going to work on empowering political security with all relevants. Also, much attention will be given to preventing and combating terrorism, I also have in mind increased regional and international co-operation”, he said.

Minister Mustafa has also talked about the necessity of passing the early retirement law. He has reasoned that many ill police officials fail to carry out their duties properly.

If we have budgetary implications at 55 years of age that cost the state a slightly shorter age that budgetary implications to be smaller, because at the same time we have found that we lose financially, but we benefit from regeneration of police structures. Not only by police but by other agencies, such as firemen, because we have 60-year-old firefighters he cannot handle the obligations and jobs that he describes by law”, he said.

As far as Kosovo's failure for membership in Interpol is concerned, Minister Mustafa said this has happened because of the politicisation of this organisation.

VV deputy Rexhep Selimi has asked the Minister of Internal Affairs to provide support to the Kosovo Police, so that certain things that have happened in the past, in which he has mentioned the matter of the Chamber of Evidence, according to him.

Selimi has even demanded that these topics be resolved and not burdened on the Kosovo Police.

Police do not identify with these unresolved problems if they are identified in the future with their successes. Also, the church asked you for a maximum commitment in the future to process certain laws that are very necessary for the police structure and for the security organizations that you have. It's very necessary, we've long mentioned the law on police, the law on early retirement of police, maybe it wasn't supposed to be delayed by now. It's come every time the draft, it's returned, it's not prosecuted for financial issues. We understand and know we don't have enough financial comfort to make laws, which then presents a problem of implementing. But, this is one of the laws that needs to be done, this is one of the laws police need at least”, he said.

He has also received criticism concerning the Kosovo Police, where he has said there are several cases of domestic violence where there has been insufficient protection