06 June 2013

As a result of a Court Order to Search the residential properties and offices of nine defendants in connection with the passports case, a joint search operation was carried out by Kosovo Police and EULEX Police on the morning of 5 June 2013.

The search was ordered as part of the investigation into the theft of 1.4 million Euros which occurred in the context of a contract for biometric passports at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The existing investigation has been expanded to include new charges and seven new defendants.

As a result of new information gathered in the course of the investigation, the defendants are being investigated in relation to the criminal offences of Organised Crime in violation of Article 274 CCK, Money Laundering in violation of Article 32, Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 2010, Receiving Stolen Goods in violation of Article 272 CCK and Tax Evasion contrary to Article 63 (1) and (2) of the Law on Tax Administration and Procedures.

The case is being investigated by a mixed team of EULEX and Kosovo prosecutors.