“I don't know how I was convicted” Peter Shala complains: We've found sentences altered in translations.

He has complained that he does not have it in the Albanian language to see how his judgment comes from the beginning to the last three days.

I have a very big concern for the previous three days session 15,16, 17 when it was final reading. In just three days, we found over 213 different words, not by mistake translated but changed. And yet I have not in my tongue the course of my judgment from the beginning until the last three days. I didn't pay attention that I didn't think such mistakes were made to change the word. However, by 15,16 and 17 you have proven that there are 230 errors, changes in words that are not wrong but changes in sentences that lose the whole meaning of everything”, Shala said, reports “JusticeBettim”.

He also complained that he does not have access to the Albanian language, even the act of decision against it, adding that he does not know what way he is condemned.

Now I don't even have a translated act. I don't know how we're gonna complain, complain when I don't know how I get punished. I'm under sentence for murder I've never killed in my life. The lawyers explain it to me and I can't believe it until I officially do, before I read it, and I understand what I'm convicted of and I don't know how I can work with lawyers and make complaints when I still don't have it translated.”, Shala said.

Shala was talking when the session went into edited content.

Prior to that, Appeals panel head Michele Picard said that completed translations and translation editing are expected to surrender in the last week of October as far as Thaci's entire trial is concerned.

I want to talk first about Mr. Shala. There's nothing in particular to say about this except that you know the entire family situation of Mr. Shala and his problems. This has had an impact on his spirituality. However, he is completely able to follow us today. That's clear. As far as Mr. Shala, I have to say, of course we have announced that there are new rules now for his ban. We've given the right explanations. Mr. Shala asks us to apply in his name that we will treat when the time is right depending on the agenda. We are monitoring the family situation, especially and we will let you know whether it is necessary to set up something about this”, said attorney Jean-Louis Gilissen.

There was nothing on this subject from the SPS and no defence side.

While, chief Judge Picard said that only in cases that may have disfellowshipped circumstances and some other decision be made, the convicted person remains in custody until a decision is made of the form.

“... the convicted person will remain in custody until a decision is made on the cut form...”, the chief judge said, adding that the review of the detention measure every two months is not possible when appeals procedures begin.

The defense had also demanded that I increase the number of words for the delivery of the Appeals file, and the chief judge instructed the defense to submit it in writing so that the decision could be made.

ZPS and victims' defender had no issue to raise

It is noteworthy that Peter Shala is present through the video connection.

Otherwise, Shala on July 16, 2024 was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

At Thursday's conference, Greep also announced that the court has been appointed in the case against Sabit Yanuzi, Ismet Bahitari and Haxhi Shala.

The trial body consists of Judge Roland Dekkers, Mapie Veldt-Foglia, Judge Gilbert Bitti and Vladimir Mikyla as the reserve court. The chairman's decision came following the announcement by the court of preliminary procedure that the file would be ready to pass to the court on September 4th, 2024”, Greep said.

Also, she announced that the preliminary procedure judge has dropped Hadzi Shala's request to order the Albanian translation of all documents in the court case file.

The trial of the preliminary procedure found that the accused had sufficient ways to understand the issue and that the defence did not demonstrate that the current system for translating evidence is inadequate. The preliminary procedure court estimated that approval of the request would further delay the passage of the case for trial. The pre-procedure judge also recalled the protection that the legal assistance system includes funds for protection teams for oral and written translation. The Specialised Chambers translate all the documents and protocols to the three languages of the Court -- Albanian, Serbian and English -- as soon as possible”, Greep said.

In addition, she added, knowing that the language of the work is English, for translations of the documents into Albanian and Serbian can take a time to complete them according to high standards.

To give the accused the most important documents in their language as soon as possible, regulation of procedure and evidence provides that specific documents be given priority in translation. For example, the indictment should be given to the accused in a language that understands”, she said.

The spokeswoman also said that decisions have been made on authorisation and selection related to Sabit Januzin and Ismet Bahitari.

“On September 2nd and 3rd, 2024, the verdicts of the judge of the preliminary procedure of April 28th, May 3rd and September 25th 2023 were made public on the authorisation of inspections and seizures concerning Sabit Januzin and Ismet Bahhitari. These can be found on the TSK site”, she said.

While in the court case against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselin, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi, Greep said that Selimi's defence request to exclude some evidence concerning the testimony of a witness has been dropped on August 28th.

The court's <x0->Trug brought it down because the prosecution and defender of the victims confirmed that they were not intended to ask witnesses about the aspects concerned about, she said.

She indicated that two witnesses witnessed in this case this week. According to her, in a summary read by the SPS the first witness, Imer Imer had been kidnapped by masked KLA soldiers in Albania because he was a supporter of Ibrahim Rugova and LDK.

“Through summary, Mr. Imer was initially held banned in Albania and later, around mid-June 1999, was transferred to Prizren, in Kosovo”, she said.

She added that the second witness, Rrustem Tetaj, is former officer The KLA, which had various positions in the Dukagjin operational zone during the summer of 1998.

So far, 84 witnesses have testified in this court case, and according to Greep, there is evidence of witnesses who have only been accepted in writing.

Otherwise, the next hearing in this case is scheduled for September 16, 2024.

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.