Thaci's lawyer: Special evidence against Hashim Thaci is weak

Former President Hashim Thaci's defence lawyer, Croatian Luka Misetic, in a joint interview for the Kosovo media, has talked about the trial process that is now continuing for nearly five years at The Hague. Misetic has said he is disappointed that former KLA leaders are being held so long in detention, as there are four and a half years of life that can never be brought back, broadcast Periscope.

“S first let me say that our clients have been kept in custody for an extremely long time, 4 and a half years in custody, four and a half years they can never turn back. I'm disappointed it took two and a half years for the prosecution to end, I believe this case could be over much faster, but we are where we are now”, Misetic said.

However, the Croatian lawyer has said the prosecution's evidence against Hashim Thaci is very weak, and Misetic says optimistic about the epilogue that will have the process against Hashim Thaci.

I generally think this case and the evidence against Mr. Thaci have been very weak. I can't talk about the evidence right now, but I think at the end of the trial you'll see that the claims that started with Marty's report have virtually no connection with the evidence presented against Mr. Thaci in this trial for over two years. In that sense I'm very optimistic about the outcome that comes out of this case, for Mr. Thaci, I think the evidence has been very weak and we will certainly argue this before the timely Judicial Chamber”, Misetic said.

He has said that the only thing left now is to go towards other remaining procedures and take the case as soon as possible.

“As it turns out, I can't comment on what was said in private sessions, but I can't comment, but I can tell you that if I speak in general, in our opinion the evidence against Mr. Thaci is extremely weak to the point that sometimes during the process I have asked myself “why Mr. Thaci? We're going to hand over our trials to the Judicial Chamber at the right time, but there's not much I can say about specific evidence of the case, but we're convinced of the outcome for Mr. Thaci and the only thing left now is to go through the next stages of the process as soon as possible and have the bias as possible”, he added further.

Regarding witnesses, Misetic has said the defence has witnesses he thinks are extremely effective, however, has said he can speak in detail.

Well, there are witnesses like that, some of them have testified at public hearings that I think over the questions have been very effective witnesses for the defense, for Mr. Thaci. I won't specifically comment on any witnesses now, even if they were in a public hearing, because you would listen to all these arguments at the right time, but I think the issue that was presented by Mr. Thaci in the opening address about his role in the Kosovo Liberation Army has been proven along the prosecution's case, and now we have only to argue with the Judicial Chamber. We have faith that the Judicial Chamber has the same impression on this case as we do, and we will expect judgment. If there's justice here, I think there'll be very good results for Mr. Thaci at the end of all this” has added to the Croatian lawyer.

He has said the prosecution has failed to present sufficient evidence in certain parts of the indictment.

We're going to lay our arguments on that the prosecution has failed to testify or to bring sufficient evidence for certain parts of their file, now I can't give details because it's neither the right place nor the right time, we're going to do this within the courtroom, but yes, we believe the prosecution has failed to present enough evidence for certain pieces of the indictment”, Croatian lawyer Luka Mistic.