Derek CHAPPELL, Spokesperson

UNMIK Police Briefing Notes
16 JULY 2002

CRIMINAL FRAUD

The reduction in violent crime across Kosovo is certainly good news, but as the fear of violence decreases we are seeing the emergence of a new type of criminal who uses fraud and deception to trick people out of their money.

On the 14th July, in the Prizren region, a thief took advantage of the despair that a grieving family felt for their missing relatives. He claimed to be able to find their family members and took ten thousand (10,000) Euros from two K Albanian females as his fee.

Of course he had no intention or ability to help them and was exploiting their hopes. He was later identified and arrested.

It has been established that this is not the first such deception he practiced. Previously he obtained four thousand (4000) DM from another Prizren region family with a false promise to be able to find their missing son.

In custody is a K Albanian male.

On the 11th July, in Gnjilane region, a K Albanian female was approached by a man who presented himself as a Social Worker. He promised that he could obtain more cash benefits for the woman and took the cash she had just received from the Social Centre to return. Of course, he stole the money and fled. No suspects have been identified.

These types of crimes are even more vile than robberies as they exploit peoples hopes and emotions.

If any other people have been the victims of such frauds, please contact your local Police.

YEAR OLD MURDER CLOSED BY ARREST

On 19th June 2001, a dispute in a coffee bar in Mitrovice South resulted in a K Albanian male being shot to death. On the 15th July 2002 this case was closed by means of the arrest of the outstanding K Albanian male suspect who had been sought for over one year.

The information in this report is accurate to the extent of the information known at the time of it's writing. However, further investigations may result in changes to what previously have been reported.

For more information contact the Office of Press and Public Information, UNMIK Police MHQ
Phone 504-604-5071, 3rd floor, office 72