Prosecutor: 25 years in prison for Haradinaj

Hague Prosecutor David Re on Monday demanded a 25-year prison sentences for three former KLA commanders. Ramush Haradinaj, Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj are standing trial before the UN court charged with war crimes committed in Kosovo in 1998, against the province's Serbs, Romas, but also fellow ethnic Albanians. Prosecutor: 25 years in prison for Haradinaj In his closing argument yesterday, Re said that the prosecutors believed they completely proved the guilt of the three accused. "We believe that they are guilty of crimes against humanity and a number of other charges," Re said, and added that the prosecutors had proven the guilt of the accused on all counts. Re said that the prosecutors demonstrated that the tree were responsible for the death of at least 40 Kosovo Serbs, Albanians and Roma, whose bodies had been found near the Radonjic Lake in September 1998. According to the prosecutor, all crimes committed in the Dukagjin zone, commanded by Haradinaj, in 1998 happened because of the joint criminal intent. The prosecutor added that Haradinaj had approved trips to Albania, which is where arms were brought from, he selected commanders in the field, led military operations and knew what was going on in the field. Re also told the judges that Haradinaj had never taken any military discipline measures against those who had persecuted people, engaged in violence and committed murders and rapes in the Dukagjin zone. The persecution and attacks were unnecessary, like the prosecutors proved beyond reasonable doubt, Re said. The indictment charges Haradinaj, Brahimaj and Balaj of crimes against humanity and violations of law and customs of war in the period between March 1 and September 30, 1998. The trial of Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj ended towards the end of 2006, when the defense, after presenting the evidence, informed the trial chamber that they did not plan to present any evidence, believing that the prosecutors had not proven the guilt of the three accused. The prosecution struggled throughout bringing forward testimonies with many of its witnesses either intimidated or turning hostile.

Prosecutor: 25 years in prison for Haradinaj

In his closing argument yesterday, Re said that the prosecutors believed they completely proved the guilt of the three accused.

"We believe that they are guilty of crimes against humanity and a number of other charges," Re said, and added that the prosecutors had proven the guilt of the accused on all counts.

Re said that the prosecutors demonstrated that the tree were responsible for the death of at least 40 Kosovo Serbs, Albanians and Roma, whose bodies had been found near the Radonjić Lake in September 1998.

According to the prosecutor, all crimes committed in the Dukagjin zone, commanded by Haradinaj, in 1998 happened because of the joint criminal intent.

The prosecutor added that Haradinaj had approved trips to Albania, which is where arms were brought from, he selected commanders in the field, led military operations and knew what was going on in the field.

Re also told the judges that Haradinaj had never taken any military discipline measures against those who had persecuted people, engaged in violence and committed murders and rapes in the Dukagjin zone.

The persecution and attacks were unnecessary, like the prosecutors proved beyond reasonable doubt, Re said.

The indictment charges Haradinaj, Brahimaj and Balaj of crimes against humanity and violations of law and customs of war in the period between March 1 and September 30, 1998.

The trial of Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj ended towards the end of 2006, when the defense, after presenting the evidence, informed the trial chamber that they did not plan to present any evidence, believing that the prosecutors had not proven the guilt of the three accused.

The prosecution struggled throughout bringing forward testimonies with many of its witnesses either intimidated or turning hostile.