gazetaexpress.com

Ex-KLA commanders indicted of faking war veterans' lists

GazetaExpress

2-3 minutes

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Special Prosecution of Kosovo has filed on Friday an indictment against 11 former members of the Government's commission on verification of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans' status. The indictment which was filed in August by ex-prosecutor Elez Blakaj, who resigned citing threats and intimidation for investigating alleged wrongdoings during this process and fled to the US, has been filed today at the Basic Court of Pristina. The eleven indicted are former top commanders of the KLA, including former KLA General Commander, Agim Ceku.

The Prosecution Office also asked the Government to stop paying a state pension to all people who are suspected of forging documents. According to the indictment because of the illegal pensions for fake KLA veterans, the budget of the Republic of Kosovo has been damaged up to 68.153.14 Euro. Former prosecutor Blakaj has shocked public opinion in Kosovo after he resigned and fled to the US, saying that he was threatened and intimidated during the investigation of this case. After the resignation Blakaj was criticised by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj calling him "thief". Gazeta Express has learned that the indicted persons are: Agim Çeku, Nuredin Lushtaku, Sadik Halitjaha, Shkumbin Demaliaj, Qelë Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Rrustem Berisha, Faik Fazliu, Smajl Elezaj, Fadil Shurdhaj and Xhavit Jashari. "All these individuals, as members of the Government commission on recognising and verification of the KLA status, in the capacity of official persons, have exceeded their competencies intentionally, and failed to fulfil official duties, by enabling other persons to illegally benefit by damaging the budget of the Republic of Kosovo," it is stated in the indictment signed by the Chief State Prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi. Also in the indictment it was proposed the Court to issue a measure stopping payment of pensions obtained illegally by fake veterans until the conclusion of proceedings.