Appeals court acquits former Malisheva mayor Ragip Begaj and former minister Bajram Hasani

The Court of Appeals has overturned the first-instance verdict of the Basic Court in Prishtina, acquitting Ragip Begaj, former mayor of Malisheva, former minister Bajram Hasani, as well as Bashkim Krasniqi and Malë Krasniqi.

In the first instance, Begaj and Hasani were sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison each, while Bashkim Krasniqi and Malë Krasniqi were given sentences of two years each.

They were found guilty of committing, in complicity, the criminal offense of misuse of official position or authority.

The case related to the prosecution’s allegations regarding the construction plans for the Economic Zone of Malisheva.

According to the Appeals Court, the review of the challenged verdict, the claims presented in the appeal, and the administered evidence showed that the factual situation for Ragip Begaj, Bajram Hasani, Bashkim Krasniqi, and Malë Krasniqi had been incorrectly determined. The court assessed that it had not been proven that they committed the criminal offense for which they were found guilty.

The notification from the Kosovo Court of Appeals also states that, acting upon the appeal of the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo and ex officio, the verdict was also amended in the part concerning the late Hajdin Berisha. The criminal proceedings against him were terminated due to his death, while the part of the appeal referring to Berisha became moot.

The Appeals Court, meanwhile, dismissed as unfounded the appeal of the Special Prosecution and upheld the acquittal part of the verdict for Faton Thaqi, Malë Krasniqi, Nazmi Kafexholli, and Ahmet Rrahmanaj.