Haradinaj retrial: Witness "frightened, anxious"

A key witness in the trial of Ramush Haradinaj at the Hague Tribunal did not want to testify in the partial retrial on Monday, said reports. The witness said he "could not answer questions and was unable to recall his earlier statements" - in which he talked about crimes in the village of Jablanica in Kosovo. Haradinaj retrial: Witness "frightened, anxious" Sefcet Kabashi, who was specifically asked by the prosecutor whether he feared for his safety if he testified, said that he himself "was not afraid to speak", but that he was "not sure whether he feared" for another person who was close to him. Throughout the hearing he constantly looked at the floor, breathing heavily and seemed to be very upset, said reports. The original not-guilty verdict against Haradinaj was overturned and the case was sent to partial retrial because of witness intimidation. Kabashi was arrested in the Netherlands several days ago and extradited to the tribual to face charges of contempt of court, originating in 2007, when he refused to testify at the first-instance trial against Haradinaj. "Where are other witnesses questioned by the prosecution? I am lucky to still be alive, and what about all those other witnesses? I know that they have been intimidated, that they fear for their lives, and both prosecution and defense spoke about that. I know very well that there are witnesses who are no longer living," Kabashi said. "Who is responsible for that," he asked. The testimony of Kabashi was scheduled for August 19, but was adjourned because the witness was not in the proper physical and mental state to appear before the court. The retrial in the case Haradinaj and his co-accused Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj at the Hague began with opening statements by the prosecution and defense before on August 18. Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj, three former members of the ethnic Albanian KLA, aree charged with committing crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war in Kosovo, in 1998. After the 1999 war in the province, Haradinaj also served as prime minister of the government in Pristina.

Haradinaj retrial: Witness "frightened, anxious"

Sefcet Kabashi, who was specifically asked by the prosecutor whether he feared for his safety if he testified, said that he himself "was not afraid to speak", but that he was "not sure whether he feared" for another person who was close to him.

Throughout the hearing he constantly looked at the floor, breathing heavily and seemed to be very upset, said reports.

The original not-guilty verdict against Haradinaj was overturned and the case was sent to partial retrial because of witness intimidation.

Kabashi was arrested in the Netherlands several days ago and extradited to the tribual to face charges of contempt of court, originating in 2007, when he refused to testify at the first-instance trial against Haradinaj.

"Where are other witnesses questioned by the prosecution? I am lucky to still be alive, and what about all those other witnesses? I know that they have been intimidated, that they fear for their lives, and both prosecution and defense spoke about that. I know very well that there are witnesses who are no longer living," Kabashi said.

"Who is responsible for that," he asked.

The testimony of Kabashi was scheduled for August 19, but was adjourned because the witness was not in the proper physical and mental state to appear before the court.

The retrial in the case Haradinaj and his co-accused Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj at the Hague began with opening statements by the prosecution and defense before on August 18.

Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj, three former members of the ethnic Albanian KLA, aree charged with committing crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war in Kosovo, in 1998.

After the 1999 war in the province, Haradinaj also served as prime minister of the government in Priština.