Guilty Plea - Kabashi (Contempt) - 26 August 2011

Shefqet Kabashi, a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), today pleaded guilty to charges of contempt of court at his further initial appearance. A further hearing will be held this afternoon at 15:00 in Courtroom III for the purpose of entering a finding of guilt. The date of the Judgement has yet to be determined.

Kabashi was charged with contempt of court on 5 June 2007 and 20 November 2007 after refusing or failing to answer questions while testifying before the Trial Chamber in the case of Ramush Haradinaj and others. Kabashi was arrested on 17 August 2011 by the Dutch authorities and transferred to the Tribunal's custody on 18 August 2011. His initial appearance was held on 19 August 2011.

Kabashi is a key prosecution witness in the re-trial of the Ramush Haradinaj et al. case as his testimony relates to the defendants' alleged responsibility for crimes committed at the KLA headquarters and the prison in Jablanica/Jabllanicë. Haradinaj, former KLA Commander and Prime Minister of Kosovo, and his two co-Accused Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj, are being re-tried on six counts of the indictment relating to the torture and murder of prisoners in the KLA-run camp in Jablanica/Jabllanicë. When ordering a partial re-trial of the case in July 2010, the Appeals Chamber found that the Trial Chamber had erred in failing to secure Kabashi's testimony, and that of one other witness, thereby depriving the Prosecution of vital support for its case.

Notes:
(ENG) Furthur Initial Hearing - Guilty Plea - Session 1 - Morning session.

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