Three police officers suspended in Pristina over suspected sexual advances to girl without a driver’s license

Three officers from the “South” Police Station in Pristina have been temporarily suspended from duty, and criminal proceedings have been initiated against them on suspicion of sexual harassment and unlawful searches through abuse of official position.

The officers are suspected of asking a girl for sexual favors after stopping her for driving without a license, in exchange for waiving a fine.

The incident reportedly took place around midnight on October 15. While on patrol during working hours, the officers stopped a car driven by a girl and, while checking her documents, found that she did not have a driver’s license.

Sources said that instead of issuing her a fine, the suspects proposed that she go with them to a motel in Çagllavicë in order to obtain sexual favors.

The girl initially followed the officers in her car, but changed direction along the way and went to a female relative’s home. The two later arrived together at the Çagllavicë roundabout, where the police officers were waiting. The officers had not expected the girl’s relative to get out of the car as well.

The relative confronted the officers and told them she had prepared a detailed report for the commander of the “South” Police Station. The report was submitted to the command, and the case was also reported to the Police, along with the evidence collected.

The Kosovo Police confirmed that information about the possible involvement of officers in the case was received on October 15. The institution notified the Kosovo Police Inspectorate (IPK) and coordinated with it to collect and document evidence.

The complainant was instructed to go to the IPK and give a statement to investigators.

After assessing the evidence, the IPK recommended suspending the three officers, a measure implemented by the Police management. According to sources, the officers under suspicion are among the most recent cohorts of police officers.

At the order of a prosecutor from the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina, criminal proceedings have been initiated against the three officers.

Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla welcomed the cooperation between the IPK and the Kosovo Police in handling the case. “We will not allow any individual to tarnish the Kosovo Police in any way,” he wrote on Facebook.

Sveçla also stressed that any misuse of the Police’s name would be punished without compromise.

The Police also announced that, in a separate case, two officers from the Gjilan Police Station had been suspended following cooperation with the IPK. As a result, the number of officers suspended in the two cases stands at five.

All suspects are presumed innocent until a final court decision is issued.