Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, 23 January 2012

On 20 January a EULEX pre-trial judge at the District Court of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica confirmed in entirety the indictment against J.P., and declared all evidence obtained during the investigation as admissible.

J.P. has been charged by a EULEX prosecutor from the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office (SPRK) on six counts:

1. Smuggling of goods

2. Tax evasion

3. Fraudulent evasion of import duty and excise tax

4. Money laundering

5. Organised crime

6. Unauthorised ownership, control, possession or use of weapons

The pre-trial judge found that there was well-grounded suspicion that the defendant belonged to a criminal group that was operating in the north of Kosovo within the period of 21st May 2009 to 16th May 2011, smuggling petroleum goods into Kosovo.

J.P. was arrested on 17th May 2011 by EULEX police, and since then he has been in detention on remand in north Mitrovicë/Mitrovica detention centre.

The ruling can be appealed by the defendant and the defence counsel before a three-judge panel of DC Mitrovicë/Mitrovica within three days after receipt.

The investigation, prosecution and adjudication of organised crimes cases in Kosovo are part of the EULEX executive mandate.