Special Prosecution requires “severe punishment” against Peter Shala

The request was made by SPS prosecutor Filippo De Minicis, who has said they have carefully examined all the arguments and claims made against Shala.

The deficit the SPS requires as a result of a review of all relevant factors, but especially of the behaviour of the accused, his actions and the consequences he has caused. It has caused a frightening violence against victims”

The defendant did nothing to ease the violence. For all these reasons he deserves severe sentences”, Mincis said.

According to him, the charges against him have confirmed witnesses who have been declared to date in Special.

We have heard many witnesses confirming each other's testimony, and this, along with other evidence, confirms the prosecution's allegations”.

Special prosecutors have pressed four counts of war crimes against Shala, including charges of torture and murder.

They have claimed that Shala has been part of a criminal group that has arrested and mistreated at least 18 people who were considered co-organists.

Shala, who is accused of running an improvised prison, where one of them was allegedly mistreated and killed at the beginning of the trial in The Hague, said all charges against him were fabricated. He was arrested on March 16, 2021, while the trial against him began on February 21, 2023.

He is charged with alleged war crimes committed between May and June 1999, against persons held in detention at Albania's Kukes metal plant, allegedly controlled by the KLA./ AP/