Peja Prosecution clarifies actions taken after the murder of Arlinda Zekaj

The Basic Prosecution Office in Peja has presented details concerning the murder of Arlinda Zekaj in Vitomirica.

At a press conference, the spokesperson for the prosecution office, Shkodran Nikçi, said that the justice institutions had taken all necessary actions and denied that there had been negligence in handling the case.

According to him, following the victim’s complaint about threats, on October 23 the prosecution filed an indictment against her former husband, Jeton Sylaj, for the criminal offense of “threatening” within a family relationship.

Nikçi said that Chief Prosecutor Lumturie Vuçetaj had immediately opened a case with the Department for Serious Crimes after receiving a submission from the victim containing three issues.

“In the first paragraph, according to the victim, there were allegations about a chain of officials who had neglected and failed to address the cases. The chief prosecutor immediately opened a case with the Department for Serious Crimes and authorized the serious crimes prosecutor to take action regarding the victim’s allegations, so that every action by each official could be verified,” Nikçi said.

He explained that the second issue concerned the enforcement of a court decision. From the time the decision was issued until October 18, the victim had requested its implementation, through which she was granted the right of ownership and use of the property she shared with her former husband. An order had also been issued barring her former husband from approaching the victim within a distance of two meters.

After reviewing the circumstances, the chief prosecutor had forwarded the matter to the relevant institutions, requesting urgent intervention.

“On Thursday, October 22, this decision was enforced and the victim went there together with the Kosovo Police. Several hours later, disagreements inside the house were reported to the police. The duty prosecutor went to the police station, spoke with the victim and, together with the police, analyzed the situation. The conclusion was that her health and life were at risk, so she was asked not to go to that house, as her safety could be compromised,” Nikçi said.

According to him, the people involved in the case were the victim and her former husband, who is currently in custody. Nevertheless, Arlinda Zekaj categorically refused not to go to the house.

Nikçi said that the chief prosecutor had invited the victim’s two brothers, who had tried to convince her to stay at their house until a solution was found. Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor had addressed all institutions, requesting that they take urgent action.

The spokesperson for the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja stressed that there had previously been no criminal history between the victim and the alleged perpetrator, who is still at large.

“Her former brother-in-law, suspected of the criminal offense of ‘aggravated murder,’ remains at large. The police are working intensively to locate and arrest him, and the public’s assistance has also been requested in this matter,” he said.

Nikçi added that the prosecution believed it had taken all prescribed actions and had asked the other institutions to act urgently. He said that a letter had been published in the media, while emphasizing that the facts showed the case against the officials had been opened immediately.

“We understand the reactions and concerns, because we have lost a citizen. Nevertheless, of all the institutions, the Basic Prosecution Office has taken the greatest number of appropriate actions,” Nikçi said.

Asked whether Chief Prosecutor Lumturie Vuçetaj might resign, Shkodran Nikçi said that she was engaged in the procedures related to the tragic case.

“As a prosecution office, we have nothing to hide. The chief prosecutor and we have taken all the necessary actions,” he said.

Arlinda Zekaj was murdered last night in Vitomirica, Peja, by her brother-in-law, who remains wanted by the police. Meanwhile, the Basic Court in Peja today accepted the indictment filed by the Basic Prosecution Office in Peja against her former husband, Jeton Sylaj, for the criminal offense of “threatening.”