Kosovo’s Special Prosecution Office has requested one month of detention for Fehim Sali, who was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of espionage and alleged cooperation with Serbia’s intelligence service, BIA.
Special Prosecutor Bekim Kodraliu said investigators, working closely with the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), had gathered evidence supporting the suspicion that Sali had been recruited by the Serbian intelligence service.
“From the evidence we secured from the Kosovo Police, in close cooperation with the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, we established well-founded suspicion that he had been recruited by the Serbian Intelligence Service – BIA, specifically by its official Zheljko Matoviq, and that he provided information to this service to the detriment of the interests of our state,” Kodraliu told reporters following Sali’s initial court appearance.
According to the prosecutor, Sali himself acknowledged during the proceedings that he had been recruited and had maintained regular contacts with BIA officials.
Kodraliu said investigators had also conducted a search in cooperation with the Kosovo Police and seized material evidence, including mobile phones and a sum of money that prosecutors believe may constitute financial benefit obtained through the alleged criminal activity.
“We consider that, based on the evidence we have secured, we have established well-founded suspicion,” Kodraliu said.
He added that Sali had been under investigation for more than a year, but declined to provide further details because of the sensitivity of the case.
The Special Prosecution Office is expected to pursue an indictment following the completion of the investigation.
Sali, who worked as a teacher at the Serbian-language “9 Maji” school in Rapçë, Dragash, was arrested at the Merdar border crossing while reportedly attempting to enter Serbia. Authorities have accused him of maintaining contacts with Serbian intelligence officials and providing information allegedly detrimental to Kosovo’s state interests.
The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings, and Sali is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a final court ruling.
