On September 21, Jeton Sylaj sent his ex-wife, Arlinda Zekaj, a WhatsApp message that she saw as a warning. Duty prosecutor Argzon Hasi asked for the case to be handled through an official report. These details are contained in a report by the national coordinator for domestic violence at the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor, obtained by “Betimi për Drejtësi.”
According to the report by national coordinator and prosecutor Ersan Qavolli, Arlinda Zekaj went to the police substation in Vitomiricë on September 21. She said she was unable to enter their shared home, even though a court had ordered Jeton Sylaj to let her return. Zekaj also said that Sylaj had traveled to America without telling her who he had left their son with.
Të lidhura
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The report says Zekaj stated that on September 21, 2026, Sylaj had written to her on WhatsApp: “Be careful, you have a protection order, don’t say what happened.”
She said she experienced her ex-husband’s messages as threats and feared that he might take revenge. “In her statement, Arlinda emphasized that her husband sent her messages that constituted a warning and that she feared possible retaliation,” the report says.
Police investigator Sead Hamzic contacted duty prosecutor Argzon Hasi, who instructed that the case be registered in an official report. Arlinda was told to report to the Center for Social Work the following day.
In her statement, Zekaj also said the police had not contacted her about enforcing the protection order dated September 7. “According to the victim’s statement, she said that the police had never contacted her regarding the enforcement of the protection order,” the report quotes.
On September 22, at the direction of prosecutors Argzon Hasi and Suada Hamza, case 2026-DA-1274 was opened against Jeton Sylaj. The investigation concerns the criminal offenses of “Disobeying a court order” and “Mistreatment or abandonment of a child.” The Center for Social Work found that Sylaj had left for the United States on September 5 and had left his son with his brother.
The national coordinator was unable to determine whether the case had ever been referred to the prosecution. “Regarding case 2026-DA-1274, which was opened against Jeton Sylaj for two criminal offenses, namely ‘Disobeying a court order’ and ‘Mistreatment or abandonment of a child,’ it is not known whether this case was referred to the prosecution and, if not, why it was not referred?!” the report says.
In a response to the chief prosecutor in Peja, Argzon Hasi said he had opened a case for disobeying a court order because Arlinda Zekaj had not been allowed to enter the house. Regarding the child, he had instructed that the juvenile prosecutor and the Center for Social Work be contacted.
Jeton Sylaj returned to Kosovo on October 22. Three days later, Arlinda Zekaj was killed at her home in Vitomiricë. Jeton Sylaj’s brother, Albert Sylaj, is suspected of the murder.
