Prishtina, 17th of January 2025

Kosovo Police, respectively the Directorate for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption (DHKEK), today on 17.01.2025, has implemented the search order of the Basic Court in Peja, Department for Serious Crimes, whereby according to the order, three (3) different locations were searched with suspicions of the criminal offenses “Abuse of official duty”, “Issuance of uncovered or false checks and misuse of bank or credit cards”, foreseen according to the Criminal Code.

Kosovo Police had begun the investigation into this case since July of last year with the authorization of the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja, whereby special investigation measures were applied and the necessary information was collected, cooperating with other institutions according to their competence, through which reasonable evidence for the criminal offenses mentioned above was obtained.

Two (2) suspects in this case, a female and a male Kosovar, are suspected of having misused the bank cards of several persons and withdrawn funds from their pension schemes for the purpose of obtaining material benefit for themselves. The withdrawal of money is suspected to have occurred continuously for several months.

During the search of the locations, the following evidence was found and seized:

• six (6) bank cards in the name of other persons

• one (1) telephone

• documentation important for investigative procedures

Two firearms were also found, an AK-47 and a short weapon for which, after consultation with the prosecutor of the case, a separate case was initiated.

The suspects were interviewed and, by decision of the prosecutor, were taken into custody for up to 48 hours.