Prosecution seeks six-year prison sentence for Thaci

At the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, during closing arguments in the proceedings against the defendants charged with offenses against the administration of justice, the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office requested that Hashim Thaci be sentenced to six years in prison, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj and Fadil Fazliu to three years each, and Hajredin Kuci to nine months in prison, Reporteri reported.

Prosecutor Joshua Hafetz asked the court to find the defendants guilty on all counts of the indictment.

“The Prosecution asks you to render a decision that is consistent with the law, the evidence and the facts. Accordingly, they should be found guilty on all counts of the indictment, taking into account the gravity of the offenses and all the factors relevant to determining the sentence applicable in this case. The Prosecution asks you to impose the sentences requested: nine months’ imprisonment for Kuci, three years for Fazliu, three years for Kilaj, three years for Smakaj and six years for Thaci, to be served after any sentence that may be imposed on him in Case 06, should such a sentence be imposed,” Hafetz said.

According to him, the acts proven beyond a reasonable doubt in this case constitute criminal offenses.

“These are criminal offenses for a clear reason. Attempting to influence the judicial process and obstruct proceedings before this court—which exists here in The Hague precisely because of Kosovo’s long history of witness intimidation and interference—poses a threat to the fair and unhindered administration of justice,” the prosecutor said.

Hafetz had previously said that the evidence in the case was serious, noting that the Defense had attempted to challenge the content of one recording.