When is the decision expected on 8 suspects in the 11-year-old rape case? Speaking From the Foundation Court

An 11-year-old girl has been raped for seven hours by four men.

The 11-year-old rape case prompted numerous reactions.

Several protests were held in Kosovo, demanding merit punishment for suspected persons.

The 11-year-old case, which was allegedly a victim of violence during June, is being investigated separately from the case of August 27th, where 5 people were arrested.

The Constitutional Court in Pristina has sentenced four accused -- three of them minors -- to 40 years in prison in the case of 11-year-old rape in Pristina in August 2022.

In the second case, however, eight other people are suspects and arrested allegedly committed the act of rape in June 2022.

In the June event, authorities have filed charges against these eight people.

Pristina Foundation Court spokeswoman Mirlinda Gashi has provided more details concerning the case.

Gashi said the defendants at the initial review hearing have been declared innocent.

She said the defendants' defenders have requested postponement of the hearing over the case.

From the judge of this case, we have been informed that in this regard, the initial examination hearing has been held, and defendants have been declared innocent of the criminal acts they are charged with. Defenders of the defendants have demanded postponement of the session, in order to make opposition to the evidence and apply for a drop in the indictment”, Gashi told Front Online.

Gashi announced that the defenders' request has been approved and the session has been postponed for 30 days.

She has shown how this 11-year-old rape case will continue after the extended session.

“Sance has been postponed and within 30 days the parties have the right to present objections and requests for dropping the indictment. So far, some defenders have submitted their demands, and the court is awaiting further requests from the parties. After accepting the requests, the same will be addressed to the State Prosecutor for opinion. After considering it, the court will make decisions regarding these requirements, while the parties have a right to complaint at the Appeals Court”, Gashi says.

Asked when the final decision for the defendants is expected, Gashi said that after completing the trial review.

“While in the question of when the decision is expected to be made regarding these people, we suggest that after the indictment takes a formal form, the judicial review will begin, and the final decision will be made after the completion of judicial review”, Gashi stressed.

For this case, Kosovo Police Director General Samedin Mehmeti had resigned. The resignation had also given the Director of the Directorate for Treatment of Prisoners and Mytur, Ali Gashi.