Judge S.H.e. gets a letter from Kurt: Declarations about Selimi do not eliminate risk of escape

The preliminary Procedure Judge has described the conditions set by Rexhep Selimi's defence to be released from his custody. In his arguments, the judge has indicated that although Selimi has been aware of the charges against him, at the moment he knows roughly what the evidence against him is, which according to the French judge increases the risk of running away.

“As far as flight risk is concerned, the Pre-Servative Procedure Judge considers some factors to support Mr. Selimi has an incentive to escape. In particular, Mr. Selimi is now not only aware of the confirmed charges against him, involving 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the possible long prison sentence that could result from them, but also through the ongoing intelligence process, Mr. Selimi is gradually gaining more knowledge about the evidence that will be presented in connection with alleged crimes committed by him. Moreover, Mr. Selimi as a former current political leader and chief of the KLA Operative Directorate cannot be ignored in assessing the risk that individuals in his support network, who share his staunch opposition to the SC, may be willing to give him access to assets and / or help him escape”, the judge's reasoning said.

For the release of Rexhep Selimi, the letter to the Special Court had also been sent to Vetevendosje head Albin Kurti, for which he had reported news.net.

In it, Kurti had described Rexhep Selimi's character, saying he has respected in full and always the laws. Kurt even said it's unimaginable “” the possible fact that Selim can escape in case of release.

 

But those qualities have not been taken by Judge Nicholas Guillo. In rationalising his decision to refuse the release request, says such statements about Rexhep Selim's good character are factors that reduce, but do not eliminate the risk of possible escape.

The trial of the preliminary procedure is also aware that Mr. Selimi, with SPO investigations, his voluntary handover for arrest in these procedures, his strong family and professional ties with Kosovo and Pristina in particular, and statements describing his good character are factors that reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of flying”, said the excuse for his release.

However, although the judge has rejected the request for Selimi's release, he has also rejected some evidence of the specialised prosecution.

The judge has cited the fact used by the SPS that Selimi has been on the US sanctions list since 2001, and that the prosecution has presented no evidence “how the list is maintained or revised from time to time”.

Nicolaas Guillou has also rejected the conditions proposed by the defence for the release of Rexhep Selim, saying the same could lower the risk of escape, but not of interference in the procedure.