Three former KLA fighters plead guilty to obstruction of justice charges

December 20, 2024 – Three former fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) have pleaded guilty to charges of witness intimidation and obstruction of justice as part of a plea deal with the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (SPO). The three men—Haxhi Shala, Sabit Januzi, and Ismet Bahtijari—admitted to the charges in connection with attempts to influence a witness during criminal proceedings.

Bahtijari confirmed his guilty plea on Thursday, while Shala and Januzi pleaded guilty on Wednesday. Shala explained to the court that he was initially unaware of the full details of the case and only later understood the nature of the charges. "Now I plead guilty, as agreed in the plea agreement," Shala told the court. Januzi also acknowledged his actions, admitting that his meeting with the prosecution witness had indeed been an obstruction of justice.

The plea deals, announced by the SPO on December 17, outline the following prison terms: Shala faces up to three years, Januzi up to two-and-a-half years, and Bahtijari up to two years. If the court approves the agreements, no trial will be held.

The charges stem from an alleged attempt by Shala, Bahtijari, and Januzi to pressure an unnamed witness to retract their testimony. According to the indictment, Shala directed Bahtijari and Januzi to meet with the witness in April 2023, offering assistance in exchange for the witness’s withdrawal of their statement.

The Specialist Chambers, based in The Hague, were established in 2015 to prosecute former KLA members for war crimes committed during and after the Kosovo War. These trials were set up outside Kosovo due to concerns over the ability of the local justice system to handle such sensitive cases, particularly with the backdrop of witness intimidation.