Germany's Federal Army officer begins testimony in Thaci case and others

In Kosovo Specialised Chambers ( DPSC) in The Hague has begun testimony from 63rd witness to the Specialised Prosecutor's Office, Dietrich Klaus-Jensch, in the case of Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

Questions about the witness have begun prosecutor Sarah Clanton, reports the “Justice Trust”.

According to the summary read by the prosecutor, Klaus-Jensch was said to have directed the operation to enter the former MUP building in Prizren for the release of prisoners and disarming KLA members.

The witness 02540 was discussed in Kosovo in June 99 as commander of the German forces that was part of the KFOR contingent. The Witness with the number 02540 and his unit were stationed in Prizren, and among their duties was patrolling and handling the security aspects that were experiencing populations there. Witness number 22540 was present when the facilities used by the KLA were raided. In particular, on June 18, 1999, he was present at the former MUP building in Prizren, where he conducted an operation to enter the building, free banned persons and disarm members of the KLA present, Clanton said.

The prosecutor said the witness saw persons injured there and sought medical support from KFOR units, who offered assistance to the injured.

The witness said he is currently a German Federal Army officer and holds the position as Lieutenant Colonel. And in 1999, he said he was a major.

Similarly, Klaus-Jensch confirmed that he has also issued statements to the former tribunal for Yugoslavia, while according to the prosecutor, this statement dates October 30th 2001.

He was presented with several photos in which he made IDs, which in one of them said he was a member of the KLA.

According to court chairman Charles Smith, the testimony of this witness is expected to last about eight hours and that two of them are envisioned for SPS representatives and another six hours for defence teams.

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

German KFOR officer who had served in Prizren today testifies in Thaci case and others