06 June 2013

Today, a mixed panel of EULEX and Kosovo judges decided to release all ten defendants in the Klecka case from house detention. However, from now until the end of the main trial the defendants must report daily to a police station. Their passports remain surrendered and they may not leave Kosovo.

The trial panel decided to substitute the measure of house detention with the measure of reporting at a police station because previous Appeals Court rulings stated the measure of house detention was mainly necessary in order to avert the risk of interference with witnesses. The final prosecution witness of fact gave evidence during the main trial session on 5th June 2013.

The main trial sessions in this case will resume on 3rd July 2013 when the defendants will begin presenting their cases. The Kosovo Code of Criminal Procedure provides that when applying a restrictive measure to ensure the successful conduct of the criminal proceedings the court must ensure that it does not apply a more severe measure if a less severe measure would suffice.

All parties have the right to appeal the court's decision.