Pjeter Shala's Hague detention extended: The prosecution requests the same for Hashim Thaci

Photo collage: Shutterstock, Facebook/Pjeter Shala, Tanjug/AP

The Specialist Chambers of so called Kosovo based in The Hague made a decision by which the detention of former member of so-called KLA Pjeter Shala was extended, and the prosecution requested the same measure for the former president of the provisional Pristina institutions and one of the leaders of the so-called KLA Hashim Thaci.

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The Chambers came to the conclusion that there is still a risk of hindering the progress of the proceedings carried out in front of it and the risk of committing new criminal acts, which is why Shala's detention was extended, Reporteri website writes.

Shala was arrested by Belgian authorities on March 16, 2021 and transferred to The Hague on April 15, 2021, based on requests for cooperation in the execution of arrest warrants and transfer orders issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Shala is charged with individual criminal responsibility in various forms, for war crimes such as arbitrary imprisonment, cruel treatment, torture and unlawful killings committed during the conflict in Kosovo and Metohija, in the context of the armed conflict in Kosovo and Metohija and in connection with this conflict.

At the same time, the Specialist Prosecutor's Office asked that Hashim Thaci's detention be extended.

"The judge for preliminary proceedings and the appeal panel stated on several occasions that the detention of Thaci was justified on several grounds, that no short stay in the detention facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers was sufficient to minimize the risk and that the period of detention, taking into account all relevant circumstances, is reasonable," stated the request.

On September 30, the Specialist Prosecutor's Office submitted a confirmed and amended indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which consists of ten counts, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The indictment states that through the actions described in the indictment, Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi are accused of participating in a joint criminal enterprise and/or aiding and abetting the crimes charged according to this indictment.

According to the prosecution, in addition to this, Thaci, Veseli, Selimi and Krasniqi are responsible for the crimes committed by their subordinates in the so-called KLA.

(Telegraf.rs)