Dacic: KLA member arrested on suspicion of war crimes committed in 1998 and 1999

The Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of the Interior, Ivica Dacic, announced that members of Serbia’s Ministry of the Interior (MUP), in cooperation with the Security Information Agency (BIA), have arrested one individual on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population in Kosovo during 1998 and 1999.

“Members of the Ministry of the Interior, the Criminal Police Directorate, the War Crimes Investigation Service, in cooperation with the Security Information Agency, arrested M.L. (46) from Pec at the Batrovci border crossing, on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of war crimes against the civilian population,” Dacic specified.

The minister stated that the arrested individual is suspected of having, during 1998 and 1999, as a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) – Dukagjini Operational Zone, first undergone selective training and subsequently participated in terrorist attacks directed against members of the Serbian Ministry of the Interior and the Yugoslav Army.

“He participated, as a member of that group commanded by Ramush Haradinaj, in the kidnapping and massacre of police officers,” Dacic added.

The suspect has been ordered detained for up to 48 hours, after which he will be brought, along with a criminal complaint, before the Public Prosecutor’s Office for War Crimes.