EULEX Press Releases

EULEX Press Releases

Guilty Plea Agreement Negotiated at the Basic Court of Ferizaj/Uroševac

27 February 2015

On 25 February 2015 at the Basic Court of Ferizaj /Uroševac (sitting in Kaçanik/Kačanik) a mixed panel of judges comprising two international judges and one local judge, confirmed a guilty plea agreement negotiated between SPRK and the defendant, R.A. from Ferizaj/ Uroševac. The defendant was charged with Causing General Danger, Unauthorised Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Use of a Firearm. 

Under the terms of the guilty plea agreement the defendant received sentences of two years imprisonment on each charge. However, as the defendant has spent over eleven months in detention on remand and house detention since his arrest in September 2013 this period of time was credited against the period of two years and the balance will be suspended. The defendant must also remain in house detention until the current term of house detention expires on 26 March 2015. In addition the defendant must perform 100 hours of community service in the Ferizaj/ Uroševac area. 

Originally there were seven defendants in the case. Two were police officers at the time of alleged offences. One held the rank of Lieutenant. They are charged with Abuse of Official Position and Accepting Bribes. Two other defendants have already pleaded guilty to Extortion and related offences and they will be sentenced at the end of the main trial. One other defendant absconded at the start of the main trial and domestic and international arrest orders have been issued for his arrest. The main trial is ongoing against three defendants.