Four Pakistani nationals accused of kidnapping two people in Pristina have their detention extended

Pretrial detention has been extended for Sanëal Sanaullah, Muhammad Hamza, Yar Muhammed and Touseef Ahmed, four Pakistani nationals accused of kidnapping two foreign nationals in Pristina and demanding 4,000 pounds for the release of one of them. They pleaded not guilty before the trial panel.

The indictment places the events on May 18 and 19, 2026. According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly kidnapped Manish Kumar and Hamanta Bhandari and held them against their will in an apartment on Shaqir Igrishta Street in Pristina.

The prosecution alleges that Manish Kumar was threatened with a weapon, physically assaulted and threatened with death. According to the indictment, he was forced to contact his family members via WhatsApp and ask them for 4,000 pounds in exchange for his release; his family members then transferred the amount demanded.

All four have been charged with kidnapping committed jointly under Article 191, paragraph 2, point 2.3, in conjunction with Article 31 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo. The indictment names them as Sanëal Sanaullah, Muhammad Hamza, Yar Muhammed and Touseef Ahmed, while the prosecution alleges that false names were also used.

The defendants are presumed innocent until their guilt is proven by a final court judgment.