More than 100 policemen charged and convicted of corruption

In addition to the central and local institutions, involvement in various corrupts has not saved many Kosovo police officials.

During 2017, up until about the first half of this year, from systematic monitoring of the Kosovo Law Institute that made the justice system in the country, there are a total of 101 police officials who have been tried for criminal acts of corruption.

They are charged with criminal acts “misuse of official position or authority”, “bribe taking”, “impact disposal”, “falsification of official documents”, “detection of official secrecy”, other.

Of these 101 police officials tried in the Constitutional Courts in Kosovo, 32 have been found guilty.

The sentences, which have pronounced courts against these police officials, have been from six months in effective prison and 500 euros in fines to 31 months in prison and three thousand euros in fines.

While, of the 101, seven police officials have been acquitted of committing corrupt acts, while another 62 are being tried under suspicion of committing criminal acts of corruption.

The two largest cases of police involvement in nearby corruption have been in Mitrovica and Prizren.

The indictment of 20 police officials accused of taking bribes has already been declared in Prizren, or as the case of “highway police was otherwise known.

At Prizren's Foundation Court, 20 police officials, on January 4th 2018, were convicted and sentenced to six months in effective prison and 500 euros in fines, in each case in which they received bribes for non-alarming anti-vative tickets, for which the prosecution, during court hearings, had presented the evidence via video recordings collected by secret measures.

Among these 20 police officers, the highest sentences have been pronounced against 13 of them, who have also been charged with other acts of corruption, with cases being sentenced to 31 months in effective prison and three thousand euros in fines.

The second largest case of police officials' involvement in corruption criminal acts has been in the Mitrovica region, but in this case the trial process has not yet been completed.

The case included a total of 59 police officials accused of misuse of official office, where of those arrested, 35 police officers have been of the Albanian community, 23 of the Serb community and one of the Bosniak community.

By the decision of the Foundation Court in Mitrovica, procedures had been isolated against officials of the Regional Unit in northern Mitrovica and those of the Regional Unit in southern Mitrovica.

35 police officials have been charged by Mitrovica's Constitutional Prosecutor, that by exploiting their official duty as Kosovo Police employees in the Regional Communications Unit, they have accepted money in different amounts from counteraveries in traffic.

After isolating the procedure and holding initial sessions, 35 police officers were found innocent of the prosecution charged with the Constitutional Prosecutorship of Mitrovica, under the crast Constitutional Court in Mitrovica, on April 16, 2018, has confirmed the indictment for taking bribes to 14 police officers at the Police Station in southern Mitrovica, while for one has thrown the indictment in a lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, the smallest number of police officials tried for corruption acts have had in other courts in the Republic of Kosovo -- that of Pec, Gjilan, Gjakova, Ferizaj and Pristina -- where sentences against them have largely been conditional.

With six months in prison on bail, a total of three police officials were sentenced at the Pristina Foundation Court and Ferizaj's, while to 10 months in prison on bail had been sentenced to a police officer at the Constitutional Court in Gjilan.

On 30 April of this year, the two police officials accused of misuse of office, Zenel Telaku and Freedom Bibaij, have been sentenced to six months in prison on bail.

Under the stated conviction, the sentence will not be executed if they do not perform other criminal acts within the period of two years -- either a year or a year -- for accused Bibaj.

On May 10th of this year, however, parole had also been pronounced against border police in Han Elez, Abjam Bela, who was accused of misusing official office or authority.

To him, the Constitutional Court in Ferizaj had pronounced a six-month prison sentence on bail, but that this sentence would not be executed unless he during the one year's period committed another criminal act.

Even the Gjilan Foundation Court has pronounced 10 months in prison on bail, which will not be executed if, in the period of two years, it does not commit any other criminal act against police Jevahir Jeymsiti, accused of misusing official office.

Otherwise, many are present when in addition to criminal acts of corruption numerous police officials are tried for other criminal acts, mainly smuggling.

In some of these cases, monitored and reported by “Justice Trust”, where police officials were charged and tried for acts of corruption, the charges were set up years ago, but that judgments were held during 2017 and in the first part of 2018.

As for January 1, 2017, until May 22, 2018, the number of police officials charged with corruption is 74.

Such a figure has revealed the media office in the Kosovo Police through a response that has been sent back to “Justice Vow”.

As for measures that have been taken against police officers charged with corruption, over this period, 64 police officials have been cut off from working in the Kosovo Police.

In addition to quitting, other measures have been taken against officers accused or tried for corruption acts.

Because of the suspicion that a criminal offense with corrupt elements has been committed, a total of 64 police officials have been cut off from their working relationship, while other disciplinary measures that have been executed to the accused police officials have been written and stopped at salary”, the Kosovo Police response reported.

Of these 74 cases, where police officials are charged with corruption, according to the response, based on the Kosovo Police, are 70, while uncontested there are four cases.

Otherwise, even a high profile within the Kosovo Police was involved in corrupt circles.

It is already former Kosovo Police Economic Crimes Director Emin Beqiri, who is accused of criminal acts “of misusing official position or authority”, “preventing proven” and “for misappropriation of criminal acts or their leaders”.

The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK), in May of this year, has filed charges against him, as well as businessman Vessim Hashimi.

They are also accused of taking 100 thousand euros to directors of the organisation Centre for Avokim and Diplomacy (QAD) to close a case.

The initial hearing against them was held on May 16th, where the two accused were acquitted of charges charged.

Meanwhile, the Kosovo Police Inspectorate (IPK), in a response to “The Justice Trust”, has indicated that in 2017, a total of 43 police officials have been investigated and 17 criminal statements and 22 separate reports on competent prosecutors under suspicion of committing criminal acts of corruption and criminal acts against official office have been filed.

In 2017 by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, a total of 43 police officials have been investigated for criminal acts by the XXIV chapter of the Penal Code: Official corruption and criminal acts against official office, as well as five (5) cases have been dealt with by persons from N.N. Kosovo Police Inspector in 2017 allegedly committed criminal acts by the XXIV chapter of the Penal Code has handed over 17 criminal cases and 22 separate reports.”, the IPK response reported.

The IPK has made it known that even in the first three months of 2018, it has accepted and managed 326 complaints and information to police officials associated with the work of corruption.

“Over the first three months of 2018 The IPK has accepted and managed 326 complaints and information. Out of them a hundred and forty (140) complaints were sent to the Bureau of Investigation. The IPK, for criminal investigation, and 183 complaints that have been classified as disciplinary violations have been submitted to the Director of Professional Standards at the Kosovo Police, one ( 1) complaint has been filed to the other institution and two complaints ( 2) have been closed at IPK”, the Kosovo Police Inspectorate's response reported.

Regarding the measures taken by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, police officials accused of corrupt acts, the response to the “Justice Vow” reportedly is that if it turns out that a criminal offense with corrupt elements has been committed by the police official comes to a departure.

” The IPK, under its legal competencies and scope, deals with high priority any information and complaint connected with corrupt acts. After completing the investigation of the same cases, they are delivered with criminal charges or separate reports to competent prosecutors. If from the investigator who investigates the case, it is estimated that the presence of the investigating police official impedes the investigative procedure then The IPK recommends the measure of suspension, transfer or any other administrative measures until the end of the investigative procedure. In addition to the criminal investigation conducted by the IPK, Kosovo police also initiated administrative procedure on suspicion of disciplinary violations and the code of police ethics. The IPK, after completing investigations and consultations with the competent prosecution, offers all the paper available for the successful development of this administrative procedure. In all cases resulting in that despite the suspicion that a criminal offense with corrupt elements has been carried out even the disciplinary administrative procedure which, if proven, then the police official leaves work”, says the IPK's response.

But neither the Kosovo Police Inspectorate has escaped involvement in various circumstances of exercise of influence and employment under the competitions this institution has opened.

The “Justice Trust”, in January 2018, had shown research into the effects of the 17 inspector/investigative competition in IPK.

In that show, the impact the chief, now suspended IPK head, Hilmi Mehmeti, had caused his uncle's son and another candidate to be selected to these positions, despite that both candidates had not passed the second phase of testing, the physical one.

After the scandal, chief chief chief Hilmi Mehmeti had been suspended from work and the situation created in this institution had also been debated in parliamentary commissions, as well as in the Kosovo Assembly hearings.

The Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), within its commitment as part of civil society, has proposed establishing the Special Court for Corruption cases.

In addition, this institute has proposed the launch of the Veting process in Kosovo, which according to it would have to include Prosecutors, Courts, and Kosovo Police.