The Basic Court in Pristina has sentenced Čedomir Aksić to 15 years in prison for war crimes committed between January and May 1999 in the villages of the Shtime Municipality. This trial was conducted in absentia.
The verdict against Aksić was announced on Thursday by the presiding judge, Violeta Namani-Hajra.
According to the judgment, Aksić was found guilty of the criminal act charged against him and sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be enforced once the judgment becomes final.
The defendant is also ordered to pay 200 euros for court fees and 100 euros for the victims’ compensation fund, while the injured parties are directed to pursue any civil claims through civil court proceedings.
The parties dissatisfied with the judgment have the right to appeal.
On November 20, 2023, the Basic Court in Pristina began the trial in absentia against Čedomir Aksić, accused of war crimes. A trial in absentia is provided for under the new Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kosovo.
On May 4, 2023, the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) filed an indictment against Aksić, accusing him of war crimes in the Shtime Municipality, specifically in the villages of Reçak, Mulapolc, and Petrovë. He is charged with causing severe suffering, bodily harm, or endangerment to the health and safety of the civilian population, in collaboration with a group of uniformed criminals, during the period from January to May 1999.
The indictment states that at a location called “Kodra e Gështenjave,” situated between the villages of Reçak, Mulapolc, and Petrovë, together with other Serbian forces, Aksić ordered the expulsion of the inhabitants of the area and subsequently, along with other Serbian forces, burned down the houses of the affected civilians, causing moral and material damages amounting to up to 300,000 euros.
At the site known as “Lugu i Neshës” in Petrovë, Shtime, Aksić is reported to have executed Halil Hysenaj with a 10-round rifle. Hysenaj’s family had previously been stopped by Aksić, and later, the family found the body of the deceased without signs of life. In Reçak village, Aksić is said to have participated in the killings of Hajriz Brahimi, Hakin Murati, Sabri Murati, Arif Murati, Ahmet Mustafa, Sadik Mujota, Skender Haliti, and Hanumshahe Mujota.
It is reported that Aksić, in collaboration with other Serbian forces, shot at Hajriz Brahimi while he was fleeing from his home towards the mountain. Afterward, Aksić allegedly shot at Hakin Murati, Sabri Murati, and Arif Murati. Additionally, in the presence of the victim’s wife, Aksić is said to have killed Ahmet Mustafa. As Aksić was leaving Mustafa’s home, Serbian forces reportedly shot at Sadik Mujota, Hanumshahe Mujota, Skender Haliti, and Mehmet Mustafa.
Witnesses for the case include: Ruzhdi Jashari, Sadri Jashari, Bashkim Rizau, Shukrije Hysenaj, Agim Hysenaj, Hajdin Hysenaj, Blerim Hysenaj, Hyzer Hysenaj, Njazi Mujota, Tefik Halili, and Avdullah Krasniqi.
With these actions, Aksić was accused of committing the criminal offense “War Crime Against the Civilian Population,” as per Article 142 of the Penal Code of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This crime is now punishable under the Geneva Conventions as a “War Crime” for grave violations of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention and Article 4, Protocol 2, dated June 8, 1977. It is currently punishable under Articles 146 and 147 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.
It is important to note that the trial against Aksić was held in absentia, as both the Prosecution and the Court exhausted all possibilities to secure his presence at the trial. /Betimi për Drejtësi/
