Haxhi Shala's detention continues

In Kosovo Specialised Chambers ( The DPSK) in The Hague has been ruling on continuing detention of Haxhi Shala, arguing there is a danger that he will commit other criminal acts, including preventing judicial procedures.

This was made known through the weekly conference by DPS spokeswoman Angela Greep.

On December 4th, the Judicial Chamber ordered the continuing detention of Haxhi Shala. The Judicial Chamber found that the danger of escape continues, as well as the danger that Mr. Shala prevents progress in the process and/or commit further criminal acts. Although he stressed that the conditions proposed earlier by defence could sufficiently reduce the risk of escape, the Judicial Chamber found they do not reduce the risk that Mr. Shala prevents the performance of the” process, Greep said.

According to Greep, the court has found that if Shala is released there will be an opportunity to influence witness 1 or manipulate evidence.

The Judge's Body took into account that if released, Mr. Shala will have the motive, means and opportunity to exert pressure on witness 1 or to manipulate evidence in any other way. The Judicial Chamber found that these risks could be significantly reduced only through the framework for monitoring communications applied to the detention facility of Special Chambers”, Greep said.

While in the court case against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi have filed Thaci's defence request for permission of a decision to accept a document linking a witness's credibility.

The Judge's <x0 Group in Hashim Thaci's court case, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, on December 3rd rejected Thaci's defence request for permission to appeal the decision to accept as proof of a document from a trial in TPJ concerning a witness's behaviour and credibility. The Judicial Chamber found that the relevant part of the document was discussed with the witness, the witness gave his comments about it during the questions of the opposing side, and that it was therefore not necessary for the document to be presented further for admission as evidence”, Greep said.

DESK's spokeswoman, announced that the court panel has concluded that a witness's credibility assessment is exclusively the responsibility of the court.

The judge's “Body reiterated that the evidence, including possible inconsistencies, would assess after the closure of the test presentation phase and in the context of the entire evidence presented to”, it said.

On the other hand, Greep announced that during this week he witnessed Sokol Basota. While, after Bashatta, the testimony gave the 110th witness, who was on protective measures.

This was the last session for this year in this case and the next was scheduled on January 13th 2025.

On the other hand, in the case of Peter Shala, the November 28th verdict has been issued on the joint pre-conception for proposed editorials in the final defence case response to the defense's request of the victims for damage.

Also, Greep announced that the defence was ordered to hand over revised public versions of these documents under instructions in the decision.

The Judge's <x0 Group stressed that it has assessed every proposed editing case by case, taking into account, among other things, protection, prosecution, victims' defenders and Witness Protection and Support Units, the principle of the public process and the task of the Judicial Chamber to ensure the safety and well-being of the victims and”, Greep said.

Greep also announced the appointment of Pyotr Hoffmanski to the International Courts of Specialised Chambers after the resignation of Judge Antonio Balsamo as the Constitutional Court's Specialised Chamber judge for professional reasons.

On the other hand, she mentioned there have been a number of questions by journalists concerning reports of raids and arrests by SPS in Kosovo.

Greep referred reporters to the DPS spokesman and also read the SPS media report, where he confirmed they are conducting operations.

During this conference “Justice Vow” raised an error case in the Special's announcement of the completion of his testimony, which was immediately corrected.

Otherwise, Kosovo Specialised Chambers in The Hague every Thursday at 14:30, via online platform “Zoom” hold weekly information offering updated information on recent developments regarding judicial procedures and activities in this court.