Retrial in Lack of War Crimes Indictees Begins, Cedomir Akek

Regarding Apel's decision, prosecutor Habibe Salihu said all necessary actions have been met under recent legal changes to enable judgment in absentia.

“We have acted on the provisions of the criminal procedure code and changes that were made for the lack of”, Prosecutor Habibe Salihu said. Report “Battle for Justice”, broadcast Periscope.

Prosecutor Salihu stated that the accused's address was initially confirmed through witnesses who had access to his property, and then Kosovo police have confirmed that he does not live in the Republic of Kosovo.

Procuja Habibe Salihu stated that international judicial co-operation has been exploited through the Ministry of Justice, where an invitation has been sent to the authorities of Serbia and an answer has been accepted from them.

Prosecutor Salihu also stated that the invitation has been published in the Official Journal for a six-month period, urging the accused to surrender.

Lawyer Berisha announced to the court that he has not yet been equipped with all the subject papers from the prosecution, including witness statements and other material evidence forming the basis of the indictment.

The accused Akek was convicted and sentenced by the Constitutional Court in Pristina to 15 years in prison, on December 26th, 2024.

Otherwise, on November 2023 at the Constitutional Court in Pristina, trial had begun in absentia against indictees Cedomir Akek, charged with war crimes. The lack of judgment is envisioned with the New Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Kosovo.

The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK) on May 4th 2023 has filed an indictment against Cedomir Akek, who is accused of war crimes in the Development Community, specifically in the villages of Recak, Mulapolc and Petrov. He is charged that since January-May 1999, by interacting with a group of uniformed criminal people, they have caused great suffering or violation of body integrity or health and fear of the civilian population.

In the indictment, it is said that at the point called “The Shooting Framework” country between the villages of Recak, Mulapolc and Petrova, along with other members of the Serbian forces, had ordered the expulsion of residents of the neighbourhood, and then along with other members of Serb forces, burned the homes of the damaged, causing moral and material damage of up to 300 thousand euros.

In a place called “The Lugu of Nash”, in Petrova Shtime, Akek is said to have now executed the late Halil Hyseyan with a ten-pound rifle, where the deceased's family had been stopped from being accused of Akek, where they later found the body of the deceased without life. And in the village of Recak, Akek was said to have participated in the murder of Hajriz Brahim, Hakin Murati, Sabri Murati, Arif Murati, Ahmet Mustafas, Sadik Mujota, Skender Halit and Hanumshahe Mujota.

Initially, Akek was said to have been co-ordinating with the other Serb forces, shooting towards Hajriz Brahim, while this last one was fleeing from his house towards the mountain, and after Hajriz Murat, Akek was said to have shot at Hakin Murat, Sabrin Murat and Arif Murat. On the other hand, in the presence of the woman (the victim), Akek was said to have killed and the person named Ahmet Mustafa and as he was leaving the now deceased Mustafa's house, with Serbian forces reportedly firing even in the direction of Sadik Mujota, Hanumshahe Mujota, Skender Halit and Mehmet Mustaf.

Random Witnesses are listed: Ruzhdzhi Jashari, Sadri Jashari, Rizau Union, Shukrije Hysenaj, Agim Hyssenaj, Blerim Hysenaj, Hyseyanji, Nijota, Tefiq Halili and Avdullah Krasniqi.

With these actions, Akek is accused of committing the criminal act “wage war against the civilian population”, punished with Article 142 of the Criminal Law of the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, currently punishable even under the Geneva Convention as “War Crime” in grave violation of Article 3 of this convention and Article 4. Protokoli 2 on 8 to 1977 and currently punishable according to Article 146 and 147 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

We remember that the trial process against Akek took place in absentia, since the Prosecutor and Court have taken all chances of securing his presence in court.

Prosecutor Salihu stated that in terms of the process, the accused Cedomir Akek has been aware of the process, because according to her, his protector in past reviews has been authorised.

The court suggested that contacting the previous lawyer would be a good “ ” and “way to inform the accused”.

At the request of accused Cedomir Aksic's holder on official duty, lawyer Ymer Berisha today's session was interrupted for another day. /Periscope