28 February 2013

A mixed panel of two EULEX judges and one local judge presided over by a EULEX judge at the Basic Court of Pristina acquitted the former Minister of Communities and Returns S.P. and convicted the former Permanent Secretary and the former Head of the Procurement Department of this Ministry on corruption related charges. Furthermore, the court found eight other persons guilty on similar offences.

S.P., was acquitted of all charges.

B.G. was found guilty of the criminal offences of abusing official position and fraud in office and sentenced to an aggregate punishment of four years of imprisonment.

N.V. was found guilty of the criminal offences of abusing official position and fraud in office and sentenced to an aggregate punishment of three years and six months of imprisonment.

The court ruled also that the defendants B.G. and N.V. are prohibited from exercising public administration or public service functions for a period of two years.

M.S., R.P., I.H. and F.S. were found guilty of the criminal offence of fraud in office in co-perpetration and sentenced to one year and six months of imprisonment.

R.S., S.H., G.Z. and D.H. were found guilty of the criminal offence of fraud in office and sentenced to one year of imprisonment.

The aforementioned prison sentences regarding the defendants M.S., R.P., I.H., F.S., R.S., S.H., G.Z. and D.H. were suspended for the period time of three years.

The case was prosecuted by a EULEX special prosecutor from Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office (SPRK).