Prosecutor: Shala's sentence is a reflection of his crimes' weight

“Desponding Shala is a proper and proper reflection of the crime burden and its role in committing crimes”, the prosecutor said.

While the prosecutor spoke of the victims and some specifics under the ban, the sessions repeatedly switched to edited or even private content.

The prosecutor said there is much evidence that has been received during the trial describing the conditions and parts of the Metali Fabric in Kukes.

She said the evidence also testifies to the detention of 9 people at the time of the indictment.

Something the prosecutor specified was that all those who worked at the plant and who were witnesses claimed not to have seen an object in which evidence indicated that there were detainees. As a result, she said that the evidence of such ones has not been reliable.

“are not reliable on actual issues such as it is for a part of a building at the Metali Fabric in Kukes”, she said.

During today's day, which is expected to last longer than planned, the defenders of the victims and finally the defense are expected to make statements.

Shala has filed complaints against the Foundation's decision in 14 appeals points, so the first hearing in the case was held on Thursday as well.

The defence said Shala earlier has given incriminating statements and was not offered judicial assistance as the fundamental right. As a result, they said the 2019 statements with Shala's SPS were based on earlier statements.

The defence said his statements were used as a basis for him to plead guilty to what was caused by great damage.

In addition, the defense claims that the court was legally wrong, and so is the sentence.

Shala, through his defense, claimed to have been trapped in this court process.

While prosecutor Filippo De Minicis said there is sufficient evidence proving the crimes Peter Shala has been convicted of.

He even said that the court was right when he found out that Shala had the direct intention to carry out the murder of the unlawful murder victim mentioned in the indictment.

As a result, he predicted that fair and transparent judgment was carried out against Shala.

Like yesterday, Peter Shala is present through the video link.

Otherwise, on March 28th, 025 has been rejected by a defense request to be called Sokol Dobruna as her witness.

In her decision, the head of the court, Michel Picard, has said the proposed evidence would not affect the trial of Shala in case they were accepted during the first-degree trial, where Shala was sentenced to 18 years in prison for war crimes.

In contrast, Peter Shala, represented by his defense, has submitted to the Appeals a plea against the reform order being pronounced on November 29, 2024, which forced him to pay the victims 208 thousand euros.

Based on five points, Shala seeks to suspend the Appeals panel's appeal against this order until the 18-year prison sentence is considered, against him for war crimes, or to cancel the measure given and turn it into a review of another jury.

On July 16th, Peter Shala has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, where he was found to be guilty of points 1, 3 and 4 of the prosecution. While currently Shala is in the process of Appeal concerning this case, since she has sought protection of legitimacy.

Shala was found guilty of arbitrary detention as a war crime against at least 18 people in the period between May 17th 1999 and June 5th of that year at the Metalli Fabric in Kukes, torture as a war crime against at least 18 people and unlawful murder as a war crime against one person.

Otherwise, during February 2023, the trial had begun on this occasion, where on February 21st the prosecution and the defense of the victims have submitted their opening statements, while on February 22nd they have heard Peter Shala's opening statements of defense as well as statements without his oath.

In March 2023 the presentation of the prosecution's evidence had begun, where 10 witnesses were heard, and in August had begun presenting evidence from the defender of the victims where two witnesses were heard.

Peter Shala was arrested on March 16, 2021, by Belgian authorities and transferred to The Hague on April 15, 2021, on the basis of a request for co-operation in implementing the warrant and order for transfer issued by Kosovo's Specialised Chambers.

In the confirmed indictment, Shala is charged with individual criminal responsibility in various forms of war crimes as arbitrary bans, cruel treatment, torture and illegal murder committed in the context of the armed conflict in Kosovo and in connection with this conflict.

The “commands that Mr. Shala was carried out approximately between May 17th 1999 and June 5, 1999, against persons who were held in the metal factory in Kukes (Albania), allegedly used by the Kosovo Liberation Army”, it is said in the communique. /Justice Trust/