The Special Court in The Hague has filed a new indictment against the former president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, as well as against three other former officials and another person, accusing them of influencing witnesses.
In a press release, the Specialized Chambers of Kosovo said that a judge has accepted the prosecutors' request for an indictment against Thaci and the former Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi, the former head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Bashkim Smakaj, the former president of Malisheva, Isni Kilaj, and Fadil Fazliun.
INDICTMENT charges them with criminal offenses related to "illegal attempts to influence the testimonies of witnesses in the war crimes trial of Thaçi and others," the court's announcement said.
According to the indictment, in the period between April 12, 2023 and November 2, 2023, during visits to the detention facility, Thaçi allegedly gave Smakaj, Kilaj, Fazli and Kuçic "confidential information about ZPS witnesses, instructions to influence in the testimonies of the ZPS witnesses and the details of how they had to do this".
"The indictment further claims that Mr. Thaçi coordinated three separate groups, formed with Mr. Smakaj, with Mr. Fazliu and Mr. Kilaj, and other persons against whom no charges have been filed, as well as with Mr. Kuçi, with the aim of influencing the testimonies of ZPS witnesses in the context of the current war crimes trial against Thaçi and others", the announcement states.
In the indictment published by Special, details are given about the "functioning of Thaçi's three groups".
According to her, during the visits, Thaçi had given information to the other accused in this case on how to send messages to the witnesses to testify.
It says that the accused have confirmed or agreed with Thaçi's instructions for obstruction of justice.
The special indictment divided the groups into: "Smakaj", "Fazliu" and "Kilaj" groups. In it, it is emphasized that the "Smakaj" Group consisted of Thaçi's former advisers, Bashkim Smakaj, Artan Behrami and Blerim Shala. While the "Kilaj" Group consisted of Isni Kilaj and Vllaznim Kryeziu, and the "Fazliu" Group consisted of Fadil and Fahri Fazliu.
It is also said there that on October 30, 2023, a document for the testimony of one witness was found in Smakaj's car.
The special has said that it found confidential materials for the proceedings and for the witnesses also in Kilaj's property, on November 2, 2023.
Smakaj, Fazliu and Kilaj were arrested on December 5 in Kosovo and taken to the Specialized Chambers detention building in The Hague on December 6, the court said.
The court added that Hajredin Kuçi was handed the confirmed indictment and the summons to appear before the preliminary procedure judge, based on the confirmed indictment, for the first appearance. /Telegraph/
