GJKKO gives verdict on criminal group/ Memaj and Tahiraj sentenced to prison

2025-03-19 16:24:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Criminal Court of Kosovo (CCKKO) announced today the verdict for Jovan Memaj and Bernard Tahiraj. They are accused of 'narcotics trafficking' and 'structured criminal group'.

Jovan Memaj, for committing the criminal offense of "Cultivation of narcotic plants", in collaboration with a structured criminal group, received 8 years in prison.

Bernard Tahiraj was sentenced to 3 years in prison for committing the criminal offense of "Structured criminal group", but will serve a shortened sentence of 2 years in prison.

Full decision:

"The trial of this case was conducted under the rules of summary trial. At the end of the trial, the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, with a panel composed of judges Matilda Llangozi, Taulant Banushi and Besjana Gerxanaj, with decision No. 27, dated 19.03.2025, decided:

The guilty plea of ??the defendant Jovan Memaj for committing the criminal offense of
"Cultivation of narcotic plants", in collaboration within the framework of a structured criminal group", provided for by Article 284/1, 28/4 of the Criminal Code and also based on Article

334/1 of the Criminal Code, his sentence to 9 (nine) years of imprisonment.

The guilty plea of ??the defendant Jovan Memaj for the criminal offense “Drug trafficking”, in collaboration within the framework of a structured criminal group, provided for by Article 283/a/1, 28/4 of the Criminal Code and based on Article 334/1 of the Criminal Code, his sentence to 12 (twelve) years of imprisonment.
The guilty plea of ??the defendant Jovan Memaj for the criminal offense “Structured criminal group”, provided for by Article 333/a/2 of the Criminal Code and his sentence to 3 (three) years of imprisonment.
The not guilty plea of ??the defendant Jovan Memaj for the criminal offense “Laundering of proceeds of crime or criminal activity” in collaboration, provided for by Article 287/1, letter “b”, of the Criminal Code because it is not proven that the defendant committed the act charged.
In application of Article 55 of the Criminal Code, in conjunction with the sentences given, the defendant Jovan Memaj is sentenced to a single sentence of 12 (twelve) years of imprisonment.
In application of Article 406/1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1/3 of the sentence given is reduced and in conclusion the sentence of the defendant Jovan Memaj is sentenced to 8 (eight) years of imprisonment.
The sentence shall commence from the day of execution of this decision and shall be served in a high-security prison.
Dismissal of the charge against the defendant Bernard Tahiraj for committing the criminal offense of “Drug Trafficking”, committed in collaboration within the framework of a structured criminal group, provided for by article 283/a/1, 28/4 and 334/1 of the Criminal Code.
The guilty declaration of the defendant Bernard Tahiraj for committing the criminal offense of “Structured criminal group”, provided for by article 333/a/2 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 3 (three) years of imprisonment.

In application of Article 406/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the sentence imposed is reduced by 1/3 and the defendant Bernard Tahiraj is sentenced to 2 (two) years in prison.
The sentence shall commence from the date of execution of the security measure “Arrest in Prison” for the purpose of this criminal proceeding and shall be served in a high-security prison.
The procedural costs incurred during the preliminary investigations, according to the minutes for recording the costs of the investigation, and the court costs, according to the relevant minutes for recording the court costs, in reference to Articles 393/1 and 285/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, shall be borne by the defendants who plead guilty, jointly and severally.
The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime shall be charged with the execution of this decision.
An appeal against this decision is allowed within 15 (fifteen) days at the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, starting from the day after the notification of this decision./CNA