Court orders one month's detention for police officer suspected of espionage

2025-07-18 15:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Court orders one month's detention for police officer suspected of

The Basic Court in Pristina has ordered a one-month detention measure for the police officer detained the day before, Bojan Jevti?, on suspicion of committing criminal offenses such as espionage and illegal possession of weapons.

"The court assessed that if the defendant is released, he may influence evidence and witnesses and may repeat the same criminal offense, or may commit other criminal offenses under the same or more serious circumstances," the court's announcement said.

The prosecution said that Jevtic was engaged in the position of chief of operations in the border police at the "Dheu i Bardhë" border crossing.

The prosecutor in the case, Bekim Kodraliu, told the media that after the action carried out the day before in the Municipality of Kamenica, in Jevtiqi's house and other facilities, material and personal evidence was found, which proves that the suspect is engaged in illegal activity.

Through a statement issued by the Prosecution on July 17, it was stated that the following material evidence was seized: confidential documents of the Kosovo Police, several smartphones, a USB, an unlicensed short weapon, ammunition, cash worth 10,000 euros, 2 million Serbian dinars [17,072 euros], 600 Swiss francs and other evidence that will be examined during the investigative procedure.

Miloš Nikoli?, Jevti?'s defense attorney, said after the hearing that he had requested protection while his client was free and had offered financial guarantees.

"Bojan Jevti? is a member of the Kosovo Police, he has been in service since 2002. Today we presented the arguments in his favor regarding the request for detention. This has to do with the fact that he will be accessible to the authorities until the end of the procedure, and that he will respond to any summons. And for this purpose we have offered the guarantee amount in the amount of 15,000 euros. So, he will cooperate with the authorities. The decision on detention has not yet been made. It will be made in two hours, which we will inform you about," he told the media after the session.

Previously, almost all of the people arrested for the attack on KFOR, at the end of May 2023, were released to defend themselves in freedom, after pleading guilty and paying financial security.

Lubisha Jevtic, the brother of the detained policeman, said in court on Friday that he was detained "without any legal basis."

"He is an honest man and has done his job with dedication. He is the father of three minor children, whom he has supported with that salary. He has worked in the Kosovo Police for 23 years without any stain on his career, without any violations. I believe that no procedure will be carried out against him and that he will be released," he said after the hearing.

After the July 17 action, the acting Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, said that "espionage networks in Kosovo are being successfully dismantled."

According to him, "this is the sixth person arrested in a row for espionage cases in Kosovo."

Recently, authorities in Kosovo have arrested, charged, and tried Serbs and Albanians on suspicion of spying for Serbia's intelligence services.

In June, a court in Pristina sentenced Aleksandar Vllajic to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of being involved in espionage as a member of the Serbian Intelligence and Security Agency (BIA).

Currently, two suspects, Bedri Shabani and Muharrem Qerimi, are being tried for espionage for Serbia at the Basic Court in Pristina.

They have pleaded not guilty to charges that they had provided information to the Serbian BIA about several security institutions in Kosovo, the KLA and the Recak massacre.

In Kosovo, espionage is defined as the secret activities of collecting, transmitting, or distributing sensitive information to another state, organization, or group.

According to the Criminal Code of Kosovo, espionage is considered a serious crime and is punishable by at least five years in prison, if the suspect is found guilty.

Experts have said that espionage is a serious threat to Kosovo's security, and the recent arrests only highlight the ongoing danger.

According to them, this activity not only destabilizes the country internally, but also damages its international position./ REL