|
 KOSOVO ALBANIANS ACQUITTED IN POZAREVAC
6 January 2000
Judge Nikola Vazura of the Pozarevac District Court
acquitted four Kosovo Albanians charged with terrorism for lack of evidence. After 17
months in custody, the four men were taken over by the International Committee of the Red
Cross and returned to their homes. Ekrem Veselaj, Haziz Krueziu, Eshref Mazreku and Hilmi
Perteshi, all from Suva Reka Township, were arrested on 6 July 1998 and charged with
participation in an attack on a column of police vehicles at Donje Krusice village,
Kosovo. At the trial, three of the defendants stated that they were stopped and arrested
without cause at a police checkpoint. The fourth was taken into custody at the Prizren
hospital where he was receiving treatment for a broken leg. The Court found that the
results of the “paraffin glove” test done during the investigatory proceedings did not
prove conclusively that they had fired at members of the Serbian police force. The
Humanitarian Law Center welcomes the ruling of the Pozarevac Court, which was rendered
solely on the basis of legal principles and standards. It urges all courts in Serbia to
demonstrate equal professionalism in adhering to the law and justice, and to disregard
attempts to exert political influence on courts of law. |
