The Special Prosecutor opposes the release of Kadri Wessel: Could be sentenced to life imprisonment

In a long response by the Special Prosecutor, which finally holds chief prosecutor Jack Smith's firm, arguments have been listed as to why Wessel, according to the prosecution body, must continue to remain in custody. The prosecution has also cited the possibility of Wessel's being sentenced to life in prison as one of the reasons why, according to them, he should not be released temporarily.

“Vessel has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in 40 countries held throughout, including murder and torture. The crimes filed on charges against Wessel bring a possible sentence of life imprisonment. This prospect creates constant danger of his escape, which will only grow after Wessel learns the full scope of evidence against him”, is said to be among other things in the prosecution's response.

The prosecution's organization at The Hague claims that the criteria for keeping Wessel in custody have been met and that these criteria “underscore the seriousness of the risks posed”, further citing the risk of Veselin escaping and the risk of having to impact the investigation process against him, including the intervention in witnesses. According to the prosecution, “no alternative measures address these risks sufficiently”.

The Special Prosecutor's Textbook at The Hague says Judge Nicolas Guillou should consider three things before deciding on the release or detention of Kadri Wessel.

“The trial of the preliminary procedure must understand that (i) there is a suspicion based on the fact that Wessel committed a crime within the jurisdiction of Specialised Chambers (‘DHSK’); and (ii) there are reasons to believe that (1) there is danger out of office; (2) Wessel will prevent the success of criminal procedure, including to the influence of witnesses, victims or associates; or (3) the seriousness of crime, or the way or circumstances under which Veselin's personal characteristics are committed, the conduct of past, and in other conditions which he lives to demonstrate a personal danger again, whether he commits a crime or an attempt to commits a crime he has threatened the provision of this provision, or not yet, he considers the provision of the provision of Veselin.

Chief Prosecutor Smith and his team attach special importance to Wessel's past in intelligence, as a reason to require keeping him in custody. For the ZPS, the experience of an intelligence Wessel is potentially important for some risk factors to escape.

“Furthermore, Wessel is one of the most experienced intelligence officials in Kosovo, former chief of KLA intelligence services and the Kosovo Intelligence Service (‘SHIK’). When this combines with his status as a public figure, it is beyond discussion that Wessel has technical knowledge and network to escape from justice”, Smith's answer is said.

The prosecution supports its claims by stressing that “Veseli can travel to over 180 countries in the world, while citing his presentation during an interview with special investigators, who, according to them, deny the risk of his escape.

Wessel's “Presentation in a SPS interview, his behaviour after being appointed as an indicted person and a letter offering his lawyer to travel to The Hague hardly deny the risk of escape”, it is said on this material.

The prosecution claims there is a climate of intimidation of witnesses in Kosovo, which is said to have tools for silence.

When there is a climate of witness intimidation, the accused will have more tools available to keep witnesses silent and face less danger of detection or denouncing when he does. Furthermore, the climate of intimidation, which is indisputably existing in Kosovo, is not the only circumstance claimed in support of the ban on Veselin”, the Special Prosecutor's Parase said.

Likewise, the ZPS estimates that “has proved to be the risk of obstructing the probe” on the part of Wessel, because the former and current <x2-Positions of Wessel allow the mobilization of an infinite array of” and Vessel's “attempts to intervene in the witness”.

Chief Professor Jack Smith's office in this parachute charges that SHIK agents leading Wessel were involved in the murder of several people.

All of this should be considered further in light of Wessel's broad intelligence in the background. The functions of Wessel's intelligence services during the time it was accused of included identifying and investigating those perceived as opponents. Furthermore, SHIK agents [ REDAKUED] were involved in killing suspects as accomplices during Wessel's term as chief. Wessel's Protection Can [ REDECT] but [ REDECT]. In brief, Wessel has all the experience, skills, and network needed to target witnesses against him”, reportedly in the prosecution's argument, Express reports.

ZPS has complained about how the prosecution's body has no resources to monitor Wessel if he is temporarily released. It also mentions EULEX's mandate, while considered that Kosovo's <x0-authorities are limited to their ability to monitor an accused”.

“D HSK / ZPS does not have the resources to monitor in a weekly manner one released as accused in Kosovo. Furthermore, the EULEX monitoring mandate does not extend to monitor the launch conditions, nor does it have the resources to do so. Kosovo police have been in assistance to the SPS when it was called, especially in the recent arrests of indictees. But there is good reason to believe that Kosovo authorities are limited to their ability to monitor an accused. [...] There are outstanding examples demonstrating the lack of capacity to monitor and effectively implement the conditions related to former KLA leaders”, it says in the parliament.

Wessel's defence for the release of former PDK leader's detention has submitted a list of conditions he has pledged to be met in the event of his release. Among other things, Ben Emmerson, Wessel's lawyer, has asked for a court hearing to address the case. But the SPS considers that no “combination of proposed conditions is approaching the easing of the string of risks that Vessel poses if released”. The prosecution describes that Wessel “tame has demonstrated that he is motivated to escape”.