Latest news with #KosovoSpecialistChambers
DW
5 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Kosovo rebel's sentence upheld, jail time reduced – DW – 07/14/2025
Pjeter Shala was found guilty in 2024 of torture, murder and arbitrary detention at a makeshift prison during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbia. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) member Pjeter Shala saw his conviction upheld but the sentence reduced from 18 to 13 years, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers tribunal in The Hague said on Monday. The tribunal, staffed by international judges and lawyers, was set up in 2015 to handle cases under Kosovo law against fighters of the KLA. The court said Shala's original sentencing was "out of reasonable proportion to comparable cases." Shala was convicted in 2024 of war crimes during the during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops. He was found guilty of torture, murder and arbitrary detention, which he committed as he ran a makeshift prison where people considered to be spies or collaborators with Serbs were housed. The original Hague tribunal conviction was appealed, with judges reversing several convictions for torture and arbitrary detention in relation to some victims, but confirming convictions for the same war crimes involving other victims. Judges also determined that the previous conviction had not taken into account that Shala was not in a commanding role for the murder charge. In the end, judges reduced his sentence from 18 to 13 years. "The reduction in his sentence in no way suggests that the crimes for which he has been convicted and sentenced are not grave," judge Kai Ambos told the court. Shala followed the hearing by video link, dressed in a light blue shirt and tie. As the decision was read out, he shook his head and appeared to be speaking but his words were not broadcast. Victims under Shala were beaten with batons and baseball bats, forced to hit each other, burned with cigarettes, coerced to simulate sexual acts with each other, and in some cases shot. Judges at the earlier trial said the torture perpetrated by Shala was "of particular cruelty" and the victims were "particularly vulnerable and defenseless." More than 13,000 people are believed to have died during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops, led by then-president Slobodan Milosevic.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Kosovo tribunal reduces sentence for former KLA member
FILE PHOTO: Former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) member Pjeter Shala attends his trial while judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers will hand down a judgment in The Hague, Netherlands, July 16 2024. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool/File Photo THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Appeals judges at the Kosovo tribunal in The Hague confirmed the conviction of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) member Pjeter Shala for war crimes, but reduced his sentence to 13 years in prison, thecourt said on Monday. Shala was initially convicted in 2024 of war crimes including torture, murder and arbitrary detention, committed as he ran a makeshift prison during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops. People considered to be spies or collaborators with Serbs were abused at the facility and at least one man was killed, the judges found. On appeal, judges reversed several convictions for torture and arbitrary detention in relation to some victims, but confirmed convictions for the same war crimes when related to other victims. They also found the lower chamber had not properly taken into account the fact that Shala was not in a commanding role for the murder charge, and reduced his sentence by five years. More than 13,000 people are believed to have died during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops, led by then-president Slobodan Milosevic. The former Serbian province eventually declared independence in 2008, which Belgrade does not recognise. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a war crimes court sitting in the Netherlands and staffed by international judges and lawyers, was set up in 2015 to handle cases under Kosovo law against fighters of the KLA. It is separate from a U.N. tribunal, also located in The Hague, which prosecuted nationals from the former Yugoslavia over the 1990s Balkan wars, including several Serbian officials and one former KLA member for crimes committed in the Kosovo conflict. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Kosovo tribunal reduces sentence for former KLA member
FILE PHOTO: Former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) member Pjeter Shala attends his trial while judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers will hand down a judgment in The Hague, Netherlands, July 16 2024. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool/File Photo THE HAGUE - Appeals judges at the Kosovo tribunal in The Hague confirmed the conviction of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) member Pjeter Shala for war crimes, but reduced his sentence to 13 years in prison, the court said on Monday. Shala was initially convicted in 2024 of war crimes including torture, murder and arbitrary detention, committed as he ran a makeshift prison during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops. People considered to be spies or collaborators with Serbs were abused at the facility and at least one man was killed, the judges found. On appeal, judges reversed several convictions for torture and arbitrary detention in relation to some victims, but confirmed convictions for the same war crimes when related to other victims. They also found the lower chamber had not properly taken into account the fact that Shala was not in a commanding role for the murder charge, and reduced his sentence by five years. More than 13,000 people are believed to have died during the 1998-99 Kosovo uprising against Serbian troops, led by then-president Slobodan Milosevic. The former Serbian province eventually declared independence in 2008, which Belgrade does not recognise. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a war crimes court sitting in the Netherlands and staffed by international judges and lawyers, was set up in 2015 to handle cases under Kosovo law against fighters of the KLA. It is separate from a U.N. tribunal, also located in The Hague, which prosecuted nationals from the former Yugoslavia over the 1990s Balkan wars, including several Serbian officials and one former KLA member for crimes committed in the Kosovo conflict. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Asia Thailand's anti-graft agency set to probe suspended premier Paetongtarn Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Kosovo fighter's sentence cut to 13 years despite court upholding convictions for murder and torture
Appeals judges at a European Union-backed court upheld murder, torture, and arbitrary detention convictions against a former Kosovo war liberation fighter Monday, but they cut his prison term from 18 years to 13 years, saying judges imposed too harsh a sentence at his trial. Pjetër Shala was convicted a year ago for his role in the abuse of detainees being held by the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA, at a makeshift jail in a metal factory in Kukës, northern Albania, during Kosovo's 1999 war for independence from Serbia. The 62-year-old Shala watched Monday's hearing at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers by videoconference and shook his head after Judge Kai Ambos of Germany rejected large parts of his appeal and handed down the new sentence. The appeals panel, however, ruled that trial judges wrongly found him guilty of five cases of torture and two of arbitrary detention, saying there was insufficient evidence, but they upheld his convictions on the same counts for other detainees and for his role in the murder of one detainee who was shot and then denied medical treatment. In reducing his sentence, the three-judge appeals panel ruled that trial judges didn't give sufficient weight to the fact that Shala didn't hold a command role when the man was murdered. The appeals judges also said that the original 18-year sentence was out of reasonable proportion to comparable cases, the court said in a statement. Kosovo's 1998-1999 fight to break away from Serbia was led by the KLA, whose main leaders, including former President Hashim Thaci, are now being tried in The Hague. More than 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war before a NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of the country and to cede control to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which was recognized by the United States and most of the West, but not by Serbia or its allies Russia and China.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Kosovo fighter's sentence cut to 13 years despite court upholding convictions for murder and torture
Appeals judges at a European Union-backed court upheld murder, torture and arbitrary detention convictions against a former Kosovo war liberation fighter Monday. But they cut his prison term from 18 years to 13 years, saying judges imposed too harsh a sentence at his trial. Pjetër Shala was convicted a year ago for his role in the abuse of detainees being held by the Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA, at a makeshift jail in a metal factory in Kukёs, northern Albania, during Kosovo's 1999 war for independence from Serbia. The 62-year-old Shala watched Monday's hearing at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers by videoconference, and shook his head after Judge Kai Ambos of Germany rejected large parts of his appeal and handed down the new sentence. The appeals panel, however, ruled that trial judges wrongly found him guilty of five cases of torture and two of arbitrary detention, saying there was insufficient evidence. But they upheld his convictions on the same counts for other detainees and for his role in the murder of one detainee, who was shot and then denied medical treatment. In reducing his sentence, the three-judge appeals panel ruled that trial judges didn't give sufficient weight to the fact that Shala didn't hold a command role when the man was murdered. The appeals judges also said that the original 18-year sentence was 'out of reasonable proportion to comparable cases,' the court said in a statement. Kosovo's 1998-1999 fight to break away from Serbia was led by the KLA, whose main leaders, including former President Hashim Thaci, are now being tried in The Hague. More than 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died during the war, before a NATO bombing campaign forced Serbia to pull its troops out of the country and to cede control to the United Nations and NATO. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which was recognized by the United States and most of the West, but not by Serbia or its allies Russia and China.
