Doubts deepen in Ricalo's decision to suspend Hajdari

The Serbian minister in the Government of Kosovo, Nenad Rikalo, has made a decision to suspend the work of AZHB's chief chief, claiming the same was suspected of committing criminal acts. But the State Prosecutor says investigations were closed in September last year on the widow the minister mentions.

In the decision to suspend the work of AZHB Chief Executive Chief Elhami Hajdari, who has received Agriculture Minister Nenad Rikalo three days ago, it is said the suspension was due to, as written in the decision “doubt over the number case. PP 467/16 of the 2308.2016 on the subject of two criminal acts: abuse and misuse of official position or authority from Article 185 paragraph 1 of KPRK”.

But, the State Prosecutor has told Gazeta Life in Kosovo that this case was closed in September last year -- that is, the decision to cease investigations was taken eight months before the suspension decision.

“E.H., initially investigated because of the reasonable suspicion that the defendant has carried out criminal activity by Article 185 paragraph 1 of the KPRK. The prosecution, following the analysis of criminal prosecution and other documents, has made the decision to drop investigations into E.H. indictees, because in the concrete case of all administered evidence, it has found no evidence that the same one has committed the criminal work for which it has been charged”, Gazeta's response reported.

The JNK has sent additional questions about opening dates and closing the investigation into the case.

Date 07. 12,2015 has taken the decision to start the investigation, meanwhile, on the prosecution's release of the investigation has made a decision on the 2009.2017<18x1>, said the prosecution's additional response.

The newspaper has tried to contact Minister Ricalo all day, but he has not responded to phone calls or written questions.

Ricalo urges Government to form disciplinary Commission

The prime minister's office has been asked whether the decision has been announced and what move it has taken.

In concrete cases, the minister has submitted requests to the country's Government for establishing this commission [the disciplinary Commission]. The request has come yesterday, afternoon and the same -- like any other request -- is prosecuted and examined in Government. So far no action has been taken, since the request reached yesterday, afternoon and there are administrative procedures. The government will address the case in the coming days”, the ZKM's response reported.

A departure from the prime minister's office says that under the regulation for top positions, the minister has the right to suspend any officials, as he suspects someone has committed a criminal offence.

But the criminal act claimed by Minister Ricalo has been closed as a case in September, according to the Prosecutor.

“After the suspension of the minister could apply to the Government to establish the disciplinary Commission, which decides on dismissal. The download can only be done by the disciplinary commission founded by the country's government”, the ZKM says.

But, the laid-off chief chief has told Gazeta that he will not respect the minister's decision.

The decision to suspend pay work will not be respected, given that the decision to work is signed by the prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo”, Hajdari has said.

Yesterday the newspaper Life in Kosovo has found that a clash between the two protagonists is behind this suspension of 165 thousand euros.

That disagreement preceded a decision by Minister Ricalo to make a super-expertis on the case of a Kosovo company that had failed to meet contractual obligations with the Agency for Agriculture Development. After failing to fulfil contractual obligations, the AZHB had asked the company to return the means it had taken as grant from the state.

Elhami Hajdari, head of AZHB, says the company from Prizren {Extra Fruits Filings) was linked to the company “Concept Pro” with headquarters in Serbia, in which the director is the wife of Nenad Ricalos, the minister of agriculture.

“This decision of Minister Ricardo comes after the company's failure to support “Extra Fruit Filingsı, which has an agreement with Rikalos' wife, éConcept Pro-) where the representative is the wife of Rikalos Biljana Rikalo, the company that has been beneficial for rural development projects in 2015, but that the company has passed all deadlines for implementation of the project and based on the programme, administrative instruction and contract, this company has been asked for a return of an advance means, and that has not been provided for legal treatment within the 2003 courts, the Gazkentari has been told.

The newspaper Life in Kosovo has contacted Biljana Riston, in the number she has placed in her registered business in Serbia. After hearing the question, she stopped her phone.

The newspaper has also contacted Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Minister Nenad Ricalo several times, but he has not responded to newspaper calls. The paper has sent questions to the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister Ricalo and is awaiting answers. The paper finds that Biljana is Nenad Rikallo's wife, who is director of the company “Concept Pro”, registered in Serbia.

Elhami Hajdari was suspended on May 8, 2018.