Shala case, deadline for delivery of SPS responses, protector of victims

In Kosovo's Specialised Chambers in The Hague, the decision has been made that the Specialised Prosecutor's Office and victims' defenders are extended the deadline for handing over their files, which are in response to the appeal of the Foundation's decision by Peter Shala.

This came as a result of extending the deadline for handing over the appeal file to the defense of Peter Shala, which was set as November 25th, 2024, reports “Justice Vow”.

While the protection of victims and SPS already have deadlines for their files to surrender by January 17th 2025, though the initial deadline was until December 27, 2024.

Otherwise, on July 16th, Peter Shala has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, where he was found to be guilty of points 1, 3 and 4 of the prosecution.

Shala was found guilty of detaining Arbytrar as a war crime against at least 18 people in the period between May 17th 1999 and June 5th of that year at the Metali Fabric in Kukes, torture as a war crime against at least 18 people and unlawful murder as a war crime against one person.

Otherwise, during February 2023, the trial had begun on this occasion, where on February 21st the prosecution and the defense of the victims have submitted their opening statements, while on February 22nd they have heard Peter Shala's opening statements of defense as well as statements without his oath.

In March 2023 the presentation of the prosecution's evidence had begun, where 10 witnesses were heard, and in August had begun presenting evidence from the defender of the victims where two witnesses were heard.

Peter Shala was arrested on March 16, 2021, by Belgian authorities and transferred to The Hague on April 15, 2021, on the basis of a request for co-operation in implementing the warrant and order for transfer issued by Kosovo's Specialised Chambers.

In the confirmed indictment, Shala is charged with individual criminal responsibility in various forms of war crimes as arbitrary bans, cruel treatment, torture and illegal murder committed in the context of the armed conflict in Kosovo and in connection with this conflict.

The “commands that Mr. Shala was carried out approximately between May 17th 1999 and June 5, 1999, against persons who were held in the metal factory in Kukes (Albania), allegedly used by the Kosovo Liberation Army”, it is said in the communique.