Detention hearing held for Bojan Jevtic; Attorney Nikolic: We requested house arrest

A detention hearing was held today before the Special Department of the Basic Court in Priština for Bojan Jevtic from Berivojce near Kosovska Kamenica, a Kosovo police officer charged with espionage by the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo. His attorney, Miloš Nikolic, stated that the defense presented arguments in Jevtic’s favor and requested that he be placed under house arrest.

Nikolic said the defense requested that Jevtic be placed under house arrest with police supervision and offered bail in the amount of €15,000 for that purpose. He added that a decision on detention is expected in the coming hours.

“Bojan Jevtic has been a member of the Kosovo Police since 2002. He is under investigation for the criminal offense of espionage. Importantly, today we presented arguments in his favor regarding the detention request, stressing that he will remain available to authorities and respond to summonses until the conclusion of the proceedings. We have therefore proposed a bail measure of €15,000,” Nikolic said.

He added that a decision is expected within the next two hours.

“The decision has not yet been made. It will be rendered in about two hours. We requested the measure of house arrest under police supervision. We believe it is appropriate, given that this is only the beginning of the proceedings, which could be lengthy, and there is no need for custody,” Nikolic stated.

He further noted that Bojan Jevtic served at the Kosovo Police checkpoint at Bela Zemlja and did not hold a high rank.

When asked by reporters about the documents allegedly found in Jevtic’s possession, attorney Nikolic said he currently has no access to the evidence, as the case is still in its initial phase.

His brother, Ljubiša, emphasized that Bojan was wrongfully detained, stating that he is an honest man and will be acquitted.

“He did his job with integrity, is the father of three minor children whom he supports with his salary. He has worked in the Kosovo Police for 23 years without a single blemish. I believe no proceedings will be pursued against him and that he will be acquitted,” said Ljubiša Jevtic.

Prosecutor Bekim Kodraliu stated that the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo filed a motion for Bojan Jevtic’s detention, claiming that he engaged in “activities that violate the legal and constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo” and requested 30 days of detention.

“As you were informed yesterday, the Special Prosecutor’s Office conducted a major operation in the municipality of Kamenica, specifically at the home of the accused Bojan Jevtic and related premises, where we secured substantial material and personal evidence, which strongly supports the well-founded suspicion that he is involved in illegal activities that undermine the legal and constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo, its officials, and citizens. For this reason, we submitted a motion for detention today,” he said.

He added that, aside from what has already been reported in the media, no further details can be shared at this time.

“We ask for your understanding; due to the sensitivity of the case, we will not be providing more information. Based on the evidence that the relevant authorities will examine with priority, we will assess whether to expand the investigation to include other suspects or even other criminal offenses against the current suspect,” he told the media.

The special prosecutor confirmed that based on the evidence, authorities will determine whether to expand the investigation to other individuals.

Jevtic was arrested yesterday at the Konculj border crossing.

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, announced yesterday that Jevtic was arrested on suspicion of espionage on behalf of Serbian security structures.

“This is the sixth person arrested in connection with espionage cases in Kosovo. One of the suspects has already admitted guilt, confirming the serious and professional work of Kosovo institutions, as well as Serbia’s involvement in destabilizing attempts against the Republic of Kosovo,” Sveçla wrote on Facebook.