The Special Prosecution of Kosovo (PSRK) has concluded the trial against former prosecutor Metush Biraj, accused of accepting a bribe, alongside Shkodran Pulaj and Naim Osmani, who face charges for offering the bribe.
The prosecution alleges that Biraj accepted an offer of thousands of euros in exchange for dropping a narcotics case being tried in Prizren. The trial reached its final stage on 8 December 2025, with closing arguments presented by both parties.
Controversy Over Evidence
PSRK prosecutor Shenaj Berisha criticized the court for declaring certain evidence inadmissible without a formal decision, including the forensic examination of Pulaj’s phone, which defense lawyers argued was conducted without proper judicial authorization.
Berisha stated that the court’s actions violated procedural principles, as evidence was deemed inadmissible only through the hearing minutes and without any legal justification. She requested the court to sentence the accused according to law, highlighting aggravating circumstances and rejecting any mitigating factors.
The defense, however, called for a verdict of acquittal, arguing that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence to support the charges.
Details of the Case
The Gjilan Basic Prosecution filed the indictment on 4 March 2024. According to the indictment:
- Metush Biraj, in his role as a prosecutor in Prizren, allegedly accepted an offer of €20,000 between April and July 2023.
- The bribe aimed to make Biraj withdraw from prosecuting Naim Osmani, Ukë Sadria, and Arbër Salihu in a narcotics case.
- Shkodran Pulaj and Naim Osmani allegedly promised the bribe to ensure Biraj would cease prosecution during the trial on 31 March 2023.
Exclusive footage from the 2017 police operation “Lozana” revealed marijuana hidden inside wooden doors across multiple locations in Prizren, Ferizaj, and Gjakovë.
Biraj has been formally charged with accepting a bribe, while Pulaj and Osmani face charges for offering a bribe.
