The prosecution presents a list of veterans claiming to be false, defense rejects

In this case, former Prime Minister Agim Ceku, former Defence Minister Rrustem Berisha, former Demalijaj DeDemalijaj delegation, Nuredin Lushtaku, Sadik Halitjaha, Qele Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Faik Fazliu, Smajl Elezaj, Fadil Shudaj and Xhavt Yashari, reports <x0Betim for Justice<1>

Prosecutor Gashi explained that the list presented by him is divided into several categories and that: the readiness of persons who have been recognised the veteran's status, even though he served other activities in the army, minors, the people who gave up the army before the end of the war, the persons from Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanoc, and those who are not aware of the exact data he served or what they had.

Initially, prosecutor Gashi presented the list from the Drenica Operative Zone, then from the Dukagjin area of Llap, Pashrik, Shala, Nerodime, Karadaku, as well as the list from the Ministry of Defence and General Staff.

According to prosecutor Gashi, in total throughout these areas, including the list from the defence ministry, General Staff turns out the veteran's right has been recognised in opposition to the 19 thousand-500 law.

Regarding the presentation of this list, there was unanimous opposition from all accused and their defenders.

The accused Ceku claimed prosecutor Gashi could not play the commander's role and make an identification of whether he could be a veteran or not.

Meanwhile, the defender of the accused, Sadik Halitijaha, lawyer Eset Berisha, said how the fault of these lists presented by prosecutor Gashi is that the right to complaint has not been taken into account.

While accused Demalijaj said that since prosecutor Gashi says the veteran's right has been known against the law, then to specify what that law is.

The accused Lushtaku said that now seven years is demanding to speak, adding that he hopes this right will be known.

On the other hand, defendant Boja said that as accused, they cannot be defended for the fact that they have not been given access to the apps that the prosecution claims on their part persons have been recognised the right to veteran status.

The accused Daku said that in terms of the Karadaku area, even on the first list the prosecution has presented, but in the second, there are persons belonging to other areas, not Karadaku.

Meanwhile, the defender of the accused Rrustem Berisha, lawyer Artan Kerin, said the prosecution has no expertise to know what military duties are, there is no precise position to know by which age you can be part of the army.

According to lawyer Qerkeyny the indictment contains no date when the war has ended to know which persons have defected, adding in the end that the court will hand over a prepared document rejecting prosecution claims concerning accused Berisha.

Defending accused Fazliu, lawyer Naim Rudari said the entire list presented by the prosecution is just one claim and nothing more.

On the other hand, the defender of the accused Elez, lawyer Nusret Islami, said his client has not been a ruling member of the Government Commission who has made verification of veteran status and that recognition of veteran status has made him the chain of command.

And in the end, the defender of the accused Jashari, lawyer Africa Salihu, said and the prosecution had to deal with the people who presented false or false data and then with the Government Commission because, according to the law, veterans' candidates were obliged to present accurate data.

The session is continuing at the afternoon session, which is expected to provide protection to the accused.

The Constitutional Court in Pristina, on 16 April 2021, the accused had been acquitted of the prosecution. But, The Court of Appeals on April 26, 2022 has turned the case into retrial.

According to the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK), the accused by misusing their official duty, as part of the KLA War Partier Commission for Recognition and Verification of the Status of the Nation's Witness, Invalid, Vetran, Partitor and Intervention, have caused damage to Kosovo's budget worth 88,769.217 euros.04 euros.

On these charges, the Constitutional Court in Pristina had taken on a release act even on January 19, 2021.

The act in this case was compiled three months later, where P SRK had been able to file complaints against this act within 15 days.

Otherwise, the Constitutional Court in Pristina, on June 19, 2019, had confirmed the indictment for the case, while the Court of Appeals had confirmed the verdict in August 2019.

With the SPRK indictment, it was also required that the Constitutional Court in Pristina order the Ministry of Labour and Social Management (MPMS) to suspend payment of pensions for 19 thousand and 500 veterans, until the completion of the judicial process.

But, on April 1, 2019, the court had rejected this request, arguing that the proposal for provisional measures is not against the accused, but against the MPMS as the third party.

And after the hearings held, the Constitutional Court in Pristina, on January 19, 2021, has declared a free trial against the accused in this case.

According to the indictment prepared by former special prosecutor Elez Blakaj, the involved persons reportedly from 2011 to 2017, acting as members of the Government Commission for recognition and Verification of the Status of the Nation's Witness, Invaledit, Veteranit, Partitor and Intervention of the Kosovo Liberation Army's War, have used the duty and official authority, passing over competencies and failing to fulfill official duties in order to benefit other persons illegally, in order to continue, at the damage to the budget of the Republic of Kosovo.

In this indictment, 12 persons are involved who are tasked with criminal work “The use of official position or authority”.

As had been reported by “Justice Trust”, the list of accused persons leads Agim Ceku, followed by Nuredin Lushtacu, Sadik Halitijaha, Shumbin Demaliaj, Qele Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Rrustem Berisha, Faik Fazliu, Smajl Elezaj, Fadil Shudaj and Jawitari.

The PSRK, too, had proposed to the court to issue the move to prevent the payment of legally acquired pensions as KLA war crimes veterans until the end of the criminal procedure.

In addition, according to the SPRK, evidence provided that illegal fees for KLA war veterans had been damaged in many of the Republic of Kosovo's 68,153,533.14 euros.

While, with the indictment handed down to the court on December 7th 2018, it is claimed that the Republic of Kosovo budget had been damaged in many of the 88.769,217.04 euros. /Betimy for Justice