UNMIK Police Briefing Notes
13 May, 2002

SMUGGLERS ARRESTED AT KULINA PASS

Enforcement activity by Police in the Kulina Pass is leading to arrests and frequent seizures of smuggled goods.

Last Tuesday night, a KPS Officer stopped a truck entering Kosovo. He searched the vehicle and found a cleverly hidden hollow space in which were concealed 70 boxes of beer. The driver was arrested and his vehicle was seized along with the contraband. That same evening, two other searches discovered 50 more boxes of beer and 50 boxes of cigarettes. Both drivers were arrested and their vehicles were seized.

On Wednesday night, another truck was searched and a KPS Officer discovered a secret compartment built into the body of the vehicle. Inside were 31 boxes of beer. That driver was also arrested and his vehicle seized.

All three suspects are K-Albanians, who were stealing from the people of Kosovo by attempting to avoid paying taxes.

These successes also clearly show that the KPS is becoming very effective at anti-smuggling operations and that UNMIK is working against criminal enterprises.

ARRESTS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDERS

Throughout Kosovo this past week, the combination of illegal weapons and hot tempers resulted in two attempted murders.

On the 9th, a 2 year-old dispute between neighbors in the village of Fericevo (Gnjilane Region) led to a 37 year-old K-Albanian man being shot through the chest by a 68 year-old K-Albanian man.

Also on the 9th, a K-Albanian man in Paledonica Village was shot in the chest after an argument between two groups at a football match escalated into violence. A dispute had erupted between the groups at another football match involving the same two teams on May 4th, and the dispute continued on the 9th. One man raised the stakes by using a stolen pistol to fire shots in the air over his opponents' heads. They responded by firing back with a rifle. The first gunman was later confronted by his brother, from whom he had stolen the pistol. The gunman shot and critically wounded his brother during the confrontation.

All of the suspects in these two cases have been arrested.

ASSASSIN CONVICTED IN FAIR AND OPEN TRIAL

On 18 April, 2001, Aleksander Petrovic was killed and four other people seriously wounded by a bomb that was exploded on a crowded street in the center of Pristina.

Last week, Roland Bartetzko was found guilty of the assassination and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Political assassinations are among the most difficult crimes for police to investigate and for the courts to prosecute. However, UNMIK Police not only identified the suspect and arrested him within 48 hours, we also gathered sufficient evidence for the prosecution to commence. The judicial system then conducted a fair and open trial resulting in a verdict of Guilty.

We have often talked about the importance of the rule of law. This case clearly indicates the commitment and the ability of the police and the judiciary to establish the rule of law in Kosovo.

END