Prosecution seeks 30 days of pretrial detention for two people suspected of usury and illegal possession of weapons

The Serious Crimes Department has asked the Basic Court in Prizren to impose 30 days of pretrial detention on V.H. and D.E. V.H. is suspected of the criminal offenses of “Usury,” under Article 331; “Coercion,” under Article 328; and “Unauthorized ownership, control or possession of weapons,” under Article 366 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo. D.E. is suspected of aiding and abetting the criminal offense of “Usury,” under Article 331 in conjunction with Article 33 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

According to the Prosecution, the investigation has established reasonable suspicion that V.H., in Prizren, during the period from 2025 until September 29, 2026, gave the injured party various sums of money at high monthly interest rates. He is suspected of exploiting the injured party’s difficult financial and personal circumstances, receiving sums that were significantly higher than the money he had provided.

The investigation revealed that the injured party had borrowed money at a monthly interest rate of 20%. For interest and late-payment interest alone, excluding the principal debt, he is suspected of having paid a total of 56,200 euros. On September 29, 2026, after a meeting at a café in the village of Krushë e Madhe, the suspects entered a vehicle, where the injured party handed V.H. 15,000 euros in interest payments. At that moment, police officers intervened and arrested both suspects in the act.

The Prosecution also suspects that V.H. repeatedly pressured and threatened the injured party in order to obtain substantial payments for interest and the debt. As a result, the victim is suspected of having experienced fear, anxiety, insecurity and concern for his life. Meanwhile, D.E. is suspected of helping carry out the usury offense by accepting, in his own name, interest payments that the injured party had made through a microfinance institution and later handed over to V.H.

During a search of V.H.’s residence, carried out on the basis of the relevant warrant, police found and seized a rifle with a scope. The suspect did not have a valid permit issued by the competent authority for the weapon.