ZPS urges continued detention for Jakup Krasniqi

“Since the latest decision on detention, there have been no developments that reduce the factors supporting the need and reason for detention. True, the continuation of the trial with testimony from the witness of fifty-three (53) and other developments in the case add to the necessity of detention”, the ZPS's statement said.

Likewise, she said it has been repeatedly confirmed that there is a doubt based that Krasniqi has committed war crimes.

The “is, in fact, repeatedly confirmed that there is a doubt based that Krasniqi has committed crimes within the jurisdiction of DPS”, said in the SPS's preamble.

West has suggested that Krasniqi is in danger of escaping, obstructing procedure and further committing crimes.

“Krasnici is aware of the serious charges confirmed against him, the possible long prison sentence that could result from them, and he is constantly gaining more knowledge of the evidence concerning those crimes. The trial's “Ecure increases the risk of fleeing to an even higher level, as Krasniqi now sees the evidence against him as constantly entering the record”, the ZPS's statement said.

As a result, the SPS has stressed that the panel has also found that the risk for Krasniqi to prevent the co-operation of judicial procedures continues to exist.

They also stated that there is a continuing climate of witness intimidation, for which the Appeals has also agreed that this findings are relevant and contextal.

“Similar findings were made in the Mustafa29 Judiciary Act and the Apelt Gucati and Haradinaj Act.30 Court of the 7th Court of Justice considered that witness assessment has continued to be a living and critical issue in Kosovo,31, and praised the testimony of defence expert Robert Reid, who stressed that, in over 20 years on the ground, he had never seen witness intimidation at the level that exists in Kosovo”, the ZPS's pre-trials.

The SPS has indicated that Krasniqi has received information about witnesses the SPS intends to call in the coming bloc and that this, according to them, increases the risk of their intimidation.

ZPS say the crimes Krasniqi is accused of are extremely serious, and the decision to confirm the indictment describes Krasniqi's participation in these crimes. Hence, the relevant risks including that of escape, according to Z. The SP can be effectively managed only in the detention facility, as has the panel.

As a consequence of all of this, the SPS in its statements has said Krasniqi must continue to remain in custody.

For the above-mentioned reasons, the ZPS respectfully predicts that Krasniqi should remain detained”, the ZPS's statement said.

Otherwise, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, on September 30th, 2022, has handed over the confirmed amended indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which consists of ten points of charges, where the latter are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On April 29th 2022, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office had handed over a amended indictment to Hashim Thaci, Kadri Wessel, Rexhepi and Jakup Krasniqi, where four indictees have committed war crimes even in Gjilan, Budakov and Semtish.

On November 9th 2020, in their first appearances, Hashim Thaci's Jakup Krasniqi has been declared innocent of the charges placed on them. Wessel has also been declared in his presentation on November 10th, as has Rexhep Selimi on November 11th.

The incident against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi is confirmed on October 26, 2020. /Betimy for Justice

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