Agim Çeku after the announcement of the verdict in the "Veterans" case: "It was a fair and expected decision"
Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Agim Çeku, accused in the case known as "Veterans", has stated that the acquittal against him and the other defendants is fair and expected.
"The acquittal for me and the other members of the Veterans Verification Commission is a fair and expected verdict. All along, from the beginning, I have felt innocent, we proved this during this process and it was a fair and expected decision," said Çeku, after the verdict was announced on Tuesday, reports "Oath for Justice".
He, along with former Defense Minister Rrustem Berisha, MP Shkumbin Demaliaj, Nuredin Lushtaku, Sadik Halitjahan, Qelë Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Faik Fazliu, Smajl Elezaj, Fadil Shurdhaj and Xhavit Jashari, have been acquitted of charges of abuse of official position or authority.
The verdict was announced by the presiding judge, Judge Nushe Kuka-Mekaj.
The Basic Court of Pristina, on June 19, 2019, confirmed the indictment in this case, while this decision was also confirmed by the Court of Appeal in August 2019.
The SPRK indictment also requested that the Basic Court of Pristina order the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MLSW) to suspend the payment of pensions for 19.500 veterans until the end of the judicial process.
But, on April 1, 2019, the court rejected this request on the grounds that the proposal for a temporary measure is not against the defendants, but against the MLSW, as a third party, reports "Oath of Confidentiality".
According to the indictment prepared by former special prosecutor Elez Blakaj, the persons involved are accused of having abused their official duty and authority from 2011 to 2017, acting as members of the Government Commission for the Recognition and Verification of the Status of the National Martyr, the Disabled, Veteran, Member and Internee of the Kosovo Liberation Army War, by intentionally exceeding their competences and failing to fulfill their official duties, in order to benefit other persons in an illegal manner, continuously, to the detriment of the Budget of the Republic of Kosovo.
This indictment includes 12 people, who are charged with the criminal offense of "abuse of official position or authority".
As "Oath for Justice" had reported, the list of accused persons is headed by Agim Çeku, followed by Nuredin Lushtaku, Sadik Halitjaha, Shkumbin Demaliaj, Qelë Gashi, Shukri Buja, Ahmet Daku, Rrustem Berisha, Faik Fazliu, Smajl Elezaj, Fadil Shurdhaj and Xhavit Jashari.
The SPRK also proposed to this court to issue a measure to stop the payment of pensions illegally obtained as KLA veteran fighters, until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
Meanwhile, according to the SPRK, from the evidence obtained so far, it has been proven that from illegal payments to KLA veteran fighters, the budget of the Republic of Kosovo has been damaged in the amount of 68.153.533.14 euros.
Meanwhile, with the indictment submitted to the court on December 7, 2018, it is alleged that the budget of the Republic of Kosovo has been damaged in the amount of 88.769.217.04 euros.
