UNMIK/PR/830
Tuesday, 24 September 2002

Police arrest two in possible Cadastre Office corruption

Based in part on information arising out of the ongoing investigation into the activities of Rrustem "Remi" Mustafa and others, investigators from UNMIK Police have undertaken an investigation into alleged corruption within the Pristina Department for Cadastre Geodesy and Property, the government office that maintains property ownership records for the Pristina region.

As part of that investigation, UNMIK Police today arrested two senior public officials from the Cadastre office on suspicion of corruption. Names of the suspects, both Kosovo Albanian men, will be withheld until charges against them are reviewed and confirmed by an investigating judge.

Investigators suspect that that employees of the agency were illegally transferring publicly or socially owned property to private individuals. Police are also investigating allegations that members of the Cadastre were requesting bribes in order to register transferred property. This information has been presented to an international judge, who has authorized the search of the Cadastre agency and other locations. The cadastral offices have been closed while the search is ongoing.

During the course of this investigation, police have determined that of approximately 15,000 transactions made at the Cadastre agency during the past two and a half years, some 80% may be of questionable validity.

The investigation of this matter will continue. Anyone who has information relevant to this investigation should contact the Police.