23 January 2013

A mixed panel of two EULEX Judges and one Kosovo judge presided over by a EULEX judge at the Basic Court of Pejë/Peć convicted nine defendants of offences relating to smuggling of migrants.

The defendants were found guilty for smuggling residents of Kosovo from Kosovo to various European countries through Serbia and other territories.

All defendants were acquitted of having committed organised crime, because it was not proven that at any stage three or more of the defendants had actively participated in the criminal activities or other activities of an organized criminal group, knowing that their participation will contribute to the commission of serious crimes by the organised criminal group.

The case was prosecuted by a Kosovo prosecutor from the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo.

All defendants have the right of appeal.