ARRESTS FOR OFFICIAL CORRUPTION

UNMIK Police today arrested two public officials for corruption. The two
K-Albanian men are senior employees of the Pristina Department for Cadastre Geodesy and Property, the government office that maintains property ownership records for Pristina Region. The suspects' names will be withheld until the charges against them are reviewed & confirmed by the Investigative Judge who is supervising the case.

According to Investigators, the employees were involved in numerous illegal transfers of property ownership over the past 2 ½ years. The illegal transfers were of public and "socially-owned" property that was transferred to private individuals. Police are also investigating complaints that the employees were demanding bribes to register legal transfers of property. It is estimated that approximately 15,000 property transfers were registered during the tenure of the suspect employees and 80% of them are questionable.

The investigation into this matter will continue as police examine documents that were seized today during a search of the suspects' offices.

Anyone with additional information about this investigation should contact the Central Criminal Investigations Unit at 038-504-604-5035.

Derek CHAPPELL
Chief of Press & Public Information

Barry FLETCHER
Deputy Chief of Press & Public Information
UNMIK Police Main HQ
Pristina

Tel. +381-38-504-604-5071/FAX 5073