Increased security in Kosovo prisons is required

Four people, three of them imprisoned, and one under house arrest, have managed to escape justice. The last case was on Wednesday when a prisoner managed to escape while being treated at the KKUK. Justice and security experts demand that actions be taken to increase security in prisons. According to them, with such escapes, public safety is endangered.

One prisoner escaped from Dubrava prison, one from Smrekonica, one from house arrest, and another while receiving medical treatment at KKUK.

In less than 8 months, four people who committed criminal offenses managed to escape from prisons, thus endangering public safety.

After Enver Sekiraqa, Faton Hajrizit and Ujkan Metaj, on Wednesday, while he was receiving treatment in the Hematology department at the KKUK, another prisoner, accused of the criminal offense of 'usury', managed to escape.

Connoisseurs of the justice system consider it important to constantly have analyzes regarding the level of security of correctional institutions.

However, the Kosovo Correctional Service says that they have issued operational orders to increase the level of security.

"Correctional institutions act according to the responsibilities and obligations defined by legal provisions. Prisoners who have left have been housed in open-type institutions, where physical and material security elements are low. However, measures have been taken and operational orders have been issued to increase the level of security in all Correctional Institutions. As a result of these measures, systematic and general raids have been carried out this year, where in twenty one (21) cases they have been positive in finding and preventing smuggling", the Kosovo Correctional Service told RTK.

While the Deputy Minister of Justice, Blerim Sallahu, said that it is not under the competence of the Ministry to undertake actions towards increasing security in correctional institutions.

While leaving these institutions does not seem to have been too difficult, capturing and returning prisoners to them is taking time.

Along with those who are leaving the prisons, there are more than 100 others wanted by the Kosovo Police, who are suspected of various criminal offenses.

According to Gzim Shala, senior researcher at the Kosovo Institute for Justice, catching them becomes difficult when Kosovo lacks cooperation with some other states.

From 2007 until now, 57 people have been released from Kosovo's prisons. /RTK/