Even in its restoration, the Foundation refuses prosecution's request for the detention of suspects who were seized with 1m euros in Merdar

“Special Prosecutor's Request of the Republic of Kosovo REFUZED PPS.n.32/2026 of the date 25.02.2026 for the appointment of the detention measure”, says the decision on March 9, 2026, reports the “Justice Vow”, Periscopi.

Suspects will be protected in freedom.

According to the Foundation, the prosecution's request is unfounded.

The court found that in this case, the essential condition from Article 184, par.1 -- points 1.1 of the Criminal Procedure Code -- was not met, respectively, that the prosecution failed to prove there is any doubt that defendants have committed the criminal work they are suspected of.

Under the verdict, the state prosecutor does not mention, nor does he describe, nor is he called into any evidence to support the suspicion the defendants have committed the criminal work they are suspected of.

So the fact that the raid was carried out in the presence of the defendants and that monetary means were found during the raid, is only the prosecution's claim filed in demand for the detention and in criminal prosecution of customs, but at the moment of deployment.
The judge of the preliminary procedure regarding the request for the detention assignment, there has been no evidence proving that claim”, the verdict said.

The court remains close to the position that in this case two of the main evidence is missing, without which there is no doubt based.

In the ruling, it is said that the Court cannot rely solely on the prosecution's assumptions that the specific property has been found in the designated person, without having and providing evidence on the prosecution's imperative required by law.

“Pages or actual circumstances in criminal procedure are the subject of investigation, not test instruments”, the decision said.

Thus, it is said that in the phase of the pre-procedure by the judge regarding the request for detention, evidence has been lacking guarantee that the alleged monetary means have been found in the defendants here.

The first instance court with full conviction remains close to the position that by the time it is set for the Special Prosecutor's request for the detention measure's appointment, there has been no evidence that the defendants have carried out the criminal work, which they suspect”, the verdict said.

Initially, the Constitutional Court in Pristina, the Special Department on February 27th, 2026, made the decision with which it rejected the Special Prosecutor's request of the Republic of Kosovo for the appointment of the detention measure against police Aurel Kaziu, as well as Edmir Ahmadojkat and Ardit Laskas.

But, the Special Department's Court of Appeals annulled the Constitutional Court's decision in Pristina and turned the case into restoration for the three suspects.

What was said in the prosecution's request?

Meanwhile, in the Special Prosecutor's request compiled on February 25, 2026, it is said that there is reasonable doubt that defendants Edmir Ahmadukej, Aureel Kaziu and Ardit Laska, deliberately and knowing that the designated wealth is acquired in criminal activity, on February 24, 2026, have entered the territory of the Republic of Kosovo through the Merdar border point, by means of the type of MP Ahmadojkaj, and the defendants of Kazika and Las.

According to the prosecution's request, during the search by customs officials, after having been asked if they possessed anything for statements, they have falsely claimed they had nothing to declare, with the intent to conceal and disguise the source, and that after passing the vehicle into the scanner, emphasis on density and non-usual lines on the lower part of the vehicle have been observed.

While, it is said that during the detailed search, from customs officials in co-operation with the Kosovo Police, using technical equipment, in a modified space in the bunker, 18 packages with banknotes of 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m and 200m, have been found within the original estimate of about 1m euros.

With these actions, it is said that defendants in co-ordination, have hidden and disguised, the source and location of property that constituted profits from criminal activity, have transported and attempted to transfer financial means with the aim of making them legal, possessed and exercised control over these financial means, being aware of their illegal origiality.

With this, defendants allegedly committed criminal work “in co-ordination. The release of money” by Article 302 concerning Article 31 of the Republic of Kosovo Criminal Code, regarding Article 56, par.1, Article 1.1 of the Law to Prevention Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing.

It says that in the statement issued before customs investigators, Ahmadojkaj declared he was unaware of the money found in the van.

Kaziu, on the other hand, reportedly declared that he had left Tirana for Germany in a blue van, which he had changed in Kosovo with what was banned by Dogan. He said he picked up the van from the company, adding that he was unaware of the confiscated money. Meanwhile, he added that he had stayed one night in Germany and later met with Ahmadojkaj, continuing on to Albania.

Laska also, according to the Prosecutor, denied any link to confiscated money. He said on February 23rd they left with the other two disabled people from Georgia to Albania.

In the motion, the prosecution had estimated that the conditions for the detention assignment have been met -- the defendants suspected of committing serious criminal acts, there is the risk of running away if left on freedom, there is the risk of annihilation, hiding or changing evidence, and that the burden of criminal acts is severe and there is high social risk.