Former Kosovo Consulate Group in New York remains in custody

Miftar Dobraj, Artan Kelmendi and Daniell Prerecaj have again appeared at the Randa Crime Department at the Constitutional Court in Pristina to face Kosovo's special prosecutor's charges of organised crime in connection with arms trafficking.

At the previous session, defence lawyers had demanded that an initial session be held before being prosecuted in second review, in order to negotiate with the prosecution to reach agreement on admitting guilt with the prosecution.

Defence lawyers have demanded from the prosecution that the criminal offense of organised crime be requisite.

However, from the beginning of today's session, the head of the court, Susan Cerkini, announced that she has accepted a letter from Artan Kelmendi's lawyer, Wisar Hadzibeqi, on April 18, 2018, through which it has been announced that negotiations on accepting guilt with agreement have failed.

Miftar Dobright's lawyer, Osman Havolelli, also stated that the same applies to his client.

“We have tried to enter into negotiations with the prosecutor of the case by relying on the facts and circumstances that for the work my protector is charged with, in any way, criminal work by Article 372 (Import, export, supply, transport, production, exchange, mediation, or unauthorized sale of weapons or explosive matter), and that no part as associated with this work is also organised crime<1>, Havolli said.

In addition, all defence lawyers demanded release from custody for their defenders, arguing that they have been made nearly a year since they are in custody, as well as stressing personal reasons why escape would not be considered an option on the part of the accused.

In addition to being released from custody, lawyer Nike Shala asked the Court that the confiscated car “A3” from Daniell Prenrecate, return to his family.

The defense also considers that the reasons that have been confiscated - "Audi A3" - have been fired, so beg the court to return to the same family”, Shala said.

But, special prosecutor Merita Bina- Rugova demanded that all these attorney proposals be rejected by the tribunal.

Among the reasons special prosecutor Bina- Rugova gave her, she stressed that Miftar Dobraj and Artan Kelmendi have been suspected of various criminal acts.

Besides that, it's not true that it's been a year, at the end of June is a year, that's June 27, 2017. As far as the car proposal is concerned, this car has been used to commit criminal work so that according to the law it should be eventually confiscated and we are drafting the demand for the sale of the car because it loses value by standing”, she added.

Replica against the prosecutor, attorney Osman Havolli and Nike Shala had, who said the data from the database of criminal speculation is not a basis that could serve as ongoing evidence of detention.

As for the car, lawyer Nike Shala said the prosecution cannot do the sale of the car until the procedure is complete.

And we all know that things aren't set with definitions, but according to facts and evidence, I believe that during the following sessions, it will prove that there is a basis for confiscated or not”, Shala said.

Following the defenders' proposals, as well as the prosecutor's opinion, Judge Susan Cerkini rejected the defence attorneys' proposal for the interruption of the detention measure against defendants Miftar Dobraj, Artan Kelmendi and Daniell Prnerecaj, thus holding the court's decision to continue detention of April 27, 2018 for the same reasons.

The ruling will be handed over to the parties in time, and all have the right to challenge the same.

Also rejected was attorney Nike Shala's proposal to return his client Daniell Prerecaj's car.

Defence lawyers within 30 days will apply for dropping the indictment and rejecting evidence.

Otherwise, the indictment in this case is also Dren Mulla, who is charged with criminal labor of possession, control, or unauthorized possession of weapons.

The mulla has pleaded guilty to this offense.

In June 2017, KALLXO.com wrote as a lightning operation by the Directorate for Investigation of nearby narcotics Trafficking The DKKO in Pristina resulted in the discovery of the structure of an alleged criminal group operating in the Republic of Kosovo, the Czech Republic and New York of the United States.