The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Prizren, Department for Serious Crimes, has filed an indictment against P.B. and E.Th., on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of “Abuse of Official Position or Authority.”
According to the indictment, the two officials, in their official capacities within the Municipality of Prizren, are accused of exceeding their competences and failing to fulfill their legal duties, which allegedly allowed the demolition of the protected cultural monument “Old Saraj” and the construction of a residential complex on its site. The act caused irreparable cultural heritage damage valued at more than €15 million.
The prosecution states that between January 5 and April 4, 2024, the first defendant, P.B., as Director of the Directorate for Urbanism, and the second defendant, E.Th., as a professional associate in the same directorate, facilitated illegal permits for investor A.Xh. Specifically, despite knowing that the “Old Saraj” was under permanent cultural heritage protection, P.B. failed to prevent its demolition, while E.Th. issued construction conditions (January 5, 2024), a demolition permit (January 15, 2024), and a construction permit (April 4, 2024).
The indictment stresses that these actions were taken in violation of the Law on Construction, the Law on Cultural Heritage, and the official list of permanently protected cultural assets, resulting in a loss estimated at €15,961,832.70.
The prosecutor has requested that, following trial and evaluation of the evidence, the defendants be declared guilty and sentenced in accordance with the law.
