A judge of the Specialized Chambers in The Hague has extended the detention of one of the former commanders of the so-called KLA, Hashim Thaci, for another two months in the case being conducted against him and four other KLA members for obstruction of justice and attempted witness tampering.
Judge Christopher Gosnell stated that there still exists a real risk that the accused, if released, could obstruct the course of the proceedings and commit new criminal offenses.
The trial of Hashim Thaci, Bashkim Smaku, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Hajredin Kuci on the indictment for obstruction of justice began on February 27 and continues on April 14.
According to the indictment, in the period from April 12 to November 2, 2023, during separate visits to the detention facility, Thaci gave confidential information to the other accused about Prosecution witnesses, instructed them to influence their testimony, and gave detailed instructions on how to do so.
Thaci has been in detention in The Hague since November 2020, and in a separate proceeding, he is being tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In the war crimes proceeding against Thaci and three other former KLA leaders, the Prosecution requested 45 years in prison for all the accused in its closing argument.
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Source: RTRS, Photo: Printscreen YouTube / Reuters