The Hague rules: This is the final verdict – more than 80 years in prison for former KLA leaders

Former president of the provisional institutions in Pristina, Hashim Thaçi, was found guilty of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty as a war crime against at least 385 people, of cruel treatment as a war crime against at least 49 people, of torture as a war crime against at least 303 people, and of murder as a war crime against 96 people.

On the other hand, Thaçi was acquitted of charges of persecution, imprisonment and other inhumane acts, torture, murder and enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity.

“This Panel has determined: a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment for the war crime of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty; a sentence of 4 years’ imprisonment for the war crime of cruel treatment; a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for the war crime of torture; and a sentence of 23 years’ imprisonment for the war crime of murder. This Panel sentences you to a single sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, with credit for the time you have already spent in detention,” the judge said.

The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office sought a 45-year prison sentence for Thaçi for war crimes and the persecution of members of the Serbian and Roma communities.

Selimi sentenced to 13 years

Rexhep Selimi was found guilty of the crimes of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty as a war crime against at least 385 people, cruel treatment as a war crime against at least 49 people, torture as a war crime against at least 303 people, and murder as a war crime against 96 people.

On the other hand, the Panel acquitted him of charges of persecution, imprisonment, other inhumane acts, torture, murder and enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity.

“This Panel has determined a sentence of six years’ imprisonment for the war crime of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty, and a sentence of two years’ imprisonment for the war crime of cruel treatment.

A sentence of eight years for the war crime of torture and a sentence of 11 years for the war crime of murder. This Panel sentences you to a single sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment, with credit for the time you have already spent in detention,” the judge concluded.

Veseli sentenced to 18 years in prison

The Trial Panel found Kadri Veseli guilty of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty as a war crime committed against at least 385 people, cruel treatment as a war crime committed against at least 49 people, torture as a war crime committed against at least 303 people, and murder as a war crime committed against 96 people.

Veseli was acquitted of charges relating to several alleged war crimes because they had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt or because the Panel found that the events in question did not fall within the court’s jurisdiction.

The Trial Panel also acquitted him of charges of persecution, imprisonment and other inhumane acts, torture, murder and enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity.

Veseli was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for the war crime of unlawful or arbitrary arrest or deprivation of liberty, three years for the war crime of cruel treatment, 13 years for the war crime of torture, and 16 years for the war crime of murder.

“This Panel sentences you to a single sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment, with credit for the time you have already spent in detention,” Judge Smith said.

Krasniqi sentenced to 25 years

Jakup Krasniqi was found guilty of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty as a war crime committed against at least 385 people, cruel treatment as a war crime committed against at least 49 people, torture as a war crime committed against at least 303 people, and murder as a war crime committed against 96 people.

On the other hand, Krasniqi was acquitted of charges of persecution, imprisonment and other inhumane acts, torture, murder and enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity.

“This Panel has determined a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment for the war crime of unlawful or arbitrary arrest and deprivation of liberty, a sentence of four years for the war crime of cruel treatment, a sentence of 20 years for the war crime of torture, and a sentence of 23 years for the war crime of murder. This Panel sentences you to a single sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment, with credit for the time you have already spent in detention,” Judge Charles Smith said.