21 January 2014

Today started the main trial at Prishtinë/Priština Basic Court, where ten defendants face trial for the alleged commission of offences that charge them with the issuing of unlawful legal decisions or in assisting in the issuing of the same unlawful legal decisions. The case relates to socially-owned land fraudulently conveyed to private owners, involving eight local judges and two legal representatives.

The prosecution argues that during the period between 2006-2007, O.J., S.M., S.S. and T.M. in their position as judges at the Municipal Court in Prishtinë/Pristina and R.R., E.A. and F.B. in their position as judges at the District Court in Prishtinë/Pristina (as second instance judges), with the intent to obtain an unlawful material benefit for themselves, or another person or to cause damage to another person, issued unlawful decisions in 15 land cases regarding Socially Owned Enterprises (SOE) in Kosovo, thus committing the criminal offence of Issuing of Unlawful Judicial Decision.

Furthermore, the prosecution has accused three defendants with the criminal offence of Assistance in Issuing of Unlawful Judicial Decision, because during the period from 2006 to 2007, the defendant N.U., in his capacity as President of the Municipal Court in Prishtinë/Priština, H.B. as a legal representative of the SOE, and G.G. as the legal representative of the claimants, assisted in committing the criminal offense by facilitating the commission of the crime.

The case is being prosecuted by an international prosecutor from Kosovo Special Prosecution Office (SPRK).