Prosecution expands wiretapping case investigation

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Special Prosecution of Kosovo has decided to expand investigations on the telephone wiretapping case, known as “Pronto II”, which was earlier initiated against former PDK caucus leader Adem Grabovci.

The investigations have also been expanded against seven other officials: Arbenita Pajaziti, former chief of the Unit for Supply at the Department of Pharmacy, Ministry of Health, Ilhami Gashi, former Secretary General at the Ministry of Interior, Besim Beqaj, Former Minister of Economic Development, Njazi Kryeziu, former President of Prizren Municipal Assembly, Zenun Pajaziti, MP at the Kosovo Assembly, Fatmir Shurdhaj, former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and Sedet Gashi, former political adviser at the Ministry of Interior.

All the defendants are suspected of committing two criminal offenses – abuse of official position or authority and violation of the equal status of citizens and residents of Kosovo, Prosecution’s announcement reads.

Indictment filed against five persons for disposition of Serb IDPs property

(Klan Kosova, KTV)

Special Prosecution of Kosovo has filed an indictment against five suspected persons for transaction of lands of Serbs.

Investigations carried out by the Prosecutor in question are related to an organised crime scheme the aim of which was to benefit, register, and transfer property rights of immovable property to the detriment of Kosovo Serb internally displaced persons and then to the detriment of Albanian buyers in the municipality of Gjakovë/Djakovica, Pejë/Pec and Deçan/Decane.

These property actions were carried out between 2000 and 2012. The overall amount of this deceit is estimated to be 1.3 million euros, Prosecution’s announcement reads.

Lutfi Haziri pleads not guilty

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Gjilan/Gnjilane Mayor, Lutfi Haziri, had to leave municipality’s duties aside for several hours on Tuesday to show up in Court, KTV reports. Prosecution is accusing Gjilan/Gnjilane Mayor from LDK for misuse of official duty.  For this matter, the initial hearing was against the Mayor was held on Gjilan/Gnjilane Basic Court.

After reading the indictment, Haziri pleaded not guilty.

Fitim Haziri, owner of the company with whom the municipality signed a contract, has been sentenced three times from the Court, in one case with prison sentence.

Judge Afrim Shala gave Lutfi Haziri and his defence time until 14 October to object evidence and the indictment.

Chief Prosecutor: Reports of Auditor General shall be investigated

(KTV)

Chief State Prosecutor informed that he has sent all Auditor General’s reports to competent prosecutions and has requested from them to start investigative actions in compliance with law.

No report received by the Auditor General will go untreated by competent prosecutions. Procurement issues will be treated with priority as it was agreed in the meetings between the Chief State Prosecutor with Auditor General and the Director of Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency, a statement issued of Chief State Prosecutor’s Office reads.

Havolli pledges to combat corruption

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

In his first appearance in front of the media, Head of Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency (KACA) promised he will work a lot on combating corruption.

The new Head of this Agency, Shaip Havolli, said there will be zero tolerance against conflict of interest, particularly in ‘hot’ cases, as he stated. Havolli said that he will work more than his predecessor, Hasan Preteni, who headed KACA for several years.

Shaip Havolli also said he will engage in further improvement of the process of declaration of assets by public officials.

He added that public procurement field will be in special focus of the Agency. Prior to taking the KACA Head post, Shaip Havolli was the Director of Economic Crimes in Kosovo Police.

Djuric gives up from his Sunday visit

(RTK1)

Director of the so-called Office for Kosovo in Serbian Government, Marko Djuric, announced on Tuesday that he will publically be in Kosovo over the coming weeks, online version of RTK reported.

Different from Monday when he said that will be this Sunday in the north; Djuric seems to have changed his mind. Speaking in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia, he said there are “serious indications that a group of people, including ministers Enver Hoxhaj and Edita Tahiri, are involved in impeding freedom of movement which is a criminal offence in Serbia,” RTKlive reported.

According to him, authorities in Kosovo ‘should not play with threatening words’ because, as he said, they will not be able to stop anyone from Serbia to move freely in Kosovo.

“They also tried to stop me in Gracanica/Graçanicë, but they did not achieve their goal. They will not achieve to do so now, either,” he ended.

Government firm to ratify current version of demarcation

(RTK)

Government of Kosovo is firm to ratify the current version of demarcation. Government’s spokesperson, Faton Abdullahu, said that opposition should have a different approach toward demarcation.

He called on opposition to accept the invitation of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa to discuss the demarcation issue. Opposition, according to him, has room to positively respond to this invitation.

Abdullahu told Tribuna Channel that the invitation is serious and Government does not have the commodity to prolong this issue without a reason, RTK reported.

Abdullahu said that Srpska List will vote demarcation, while he denied the voices that Government is bargaining with Belgrade regarding transformation of Kosovo Security Force into Armed Force. He announced that Kosovo will have its Army as of next year.

Functionalization of Courts in north postponed to November

(RTK2)

Although functionalization of Basic Court in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north was planned to happen during October, this is not likely to happen, RTK2 reported.  Unofficially, it is being said that judicial institutions in north, which will work with Kosovo laws, might be functional as of 04 November.

In February 2015, Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina representatives signed an agreement on judiciary, which would enable inclusion of Serb judges and prosecutors in justice system in Kosovo north. 19 prosecutors, including 9 Serbs, have been already selected. Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi is expected to decree 48 Serb judges in order for them to start scheduling hearing sessions.

On the other hand, lawyer Nebojsa Vlajic considers that there are several technical issues which hinder quick functionalization of the Court. He says that the planned court infrastructure is in poor condition and it needs renovation.

Vlajic said that disagreements between Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina hinder integration of justice system, adding that this is the main reason why the court system in north is not functional yet.

He is convinced that any court in the north is better than having no court at all, adding that it is essential for citizens to trust this judiciary institution.

EULEX pledges support to rule of law institutions in north

(RTK2)

EULEX Head of Mission, Alexandra Papadopoulou, met with the mayors of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok and Zvecan/Zveçan.  She praised mayors of the north for their constructive engagement so far.

“EULEX stands ready to continue supporting the strengthening of rule of law institutions in the north, as well as supporting the implementation of agreements reached between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade,” said Papadopoulou, adding that judicial integration is an important process which will hopefully be finalized very soon.