21 September 2012

A mixed panel of one EULEX judge and two local judges, presided over by a EULEX judge at the District Court of Prizren convicted six persons from Peja/Pec region for the criminal offence of smuggling of migrants. Three other defendants were acquitted of all charges.

A.B., B.I., N.A., H.B. were sentenced to one year imprisonment, T.B. was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment, N.I. was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment. N.I. was also ordered to pay a fine of 1500 euro for unauthorized ownership of weapons, while he was acquitted of unauthorised possession of drugs. All defendants were acquitted of organised crime. Two hand weapons and a small amount of cannabis were confiscated.

The investigation was based on information received through international legal cooperation with Albania. Investigations started in August 2010 against two defendants. Based on intercepted phone conversations witnesses and co-perpetrators were identified. All defendants were arrested in May 2011.

The case was prosecuted by a local prosecutor from Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office.