Salih Mustafa again gives up the right to be present in the trial

The chairman of the court, Mapie Veldt-Foglia, has said she has been informed that former Kosovo Liberation Army member (UÇK), Salih Mustafa, no longer wants to be present at the session.

“Remind here that according to rule 68 (4) that determines he may not be present at court”, she said.

Attorney Julius Von Bone, who defends the accused, has said he informs the court that his client no longer wants to be present in the witness procedure today and will not make any other statements today.

“A you will continue to make statements in line with rule 68 (4) because all conditions must be met if you must confirm that you should be present. If I'm going to let him not follow some part of the question, if he allows this, there's going to be videos on the detention center, but while you're being transported I won't hear any of the questions”, the judge said.

The lawyer, however, said that today is not necessary.

But, for video connection if it's going to be done, it's best to set up a video link so I can participate in video connection if it's necessary to respond to the court it's probably going to be done through video connection, not this witness”, he said.

On the other hand, he stated that there seem to be generally witnesses whom Mustafa considers more important than others.

When it comes to asking questions or something else, but I don't want to participate. There may be times when we should consult about one or two things about those witnesses”, he said.

On the other hand, Mustafa said he gave up his right to be present and that he would represent his client's interests.

The defender of the victims, Anni Pues, stated that in this case, given the circumstances of the witness being heard, the presence of the accused would not really be needed.

It wouldn't be so necessary for the accused to be present when compared to other times. But I'd like the court to inform the witness office that this thing is not present”, Anni Pues said.

ZPS told them that they think so too, but in addition, if the absence of the accused may have to be heard by the accused himself, and that the session may continue even without him.

We have “that we have in progress because in the future it can become something regular, its absence in hall”, the ZPS have said.

The court later withdrew for consultation, and after the return from the court's chairman, it was said that under the rule 68, paragraph 4 of the regulation followed a first appearance, the accused has been regularly announced that he has the obligation to attend, has given up his right to be present, his lawyer will be present and will represent his interests.

And we consider it necessary to be present tomorrow morning to discuss his presence, to give him a warrant to be present at 9 and a half”, she said.

Otherwise, Salih Mustafa has been declared innocent at the session held on September 15th.

The act against former Kosovo Liberation Army member (UÇK), Salih Mustafa, has been confirmed on June 12th 2020

The confirmed “Acuza stipulates that approximately between April 1st 1999 and April 19, 1999, at a detention complex in Zlatko, Kosovo, arbitrary crimes, cruel treatment and torture against at least six people were committed. Also, the indictment says that on a date between April 19, 1999, or about this date, and about the end of April 1999, a detainee” was killed at that location, the Special Court announced through a communiqué.

It becomes known that in the confirmed indictment, Salih Mustafa is charged in the context of various forms of criminal responsibility -- for arbitrary bans, cruel treatment, torture and unlawful murder as war crimes committed in the context of the non-international armed conflict in Kosovo, or in connection with that conflict.