06 October 2011

Following the yesterday’s policing operation by the EULEX Organised Crime Investigation Unit, a EULEX pre-trial judge at the District Court of Prishtinë/Priština has ordered one month of detention on remand for two individuals, and one month of house detention for the third individual who where arrested yesterday

After being interviewed by EULEX police, a further two individuals were released from police custody. One individual still remains in custody.

The arrest of the six persons and the search of 14 locations are part of a major, ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and procurement fraud involving Kosovo Police and business suppliers of police weapons and ammunition. It is alleged that since 2008 the Kosovo Police budget has suffered losses of millions of Euros due to the activities of those arrested.

This investigation, led by a Prosecutor from Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office (SPRK), has focused upon the activities of key individuals rather than institutions and is part of a wider series of investigations into corruption and organised crime, jointly conducted by SPRK and EULEX Police that will continue to identify and prosecute those who abuse their positions of trust.

Yesterday’s operation was fully supported by the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Kosovo Police, whose close cooperation was invaluable and remains a vital part of the drive forward in tackling these kind of offences.