Trial Over Terrorist Attack on Ibër Lepenc Halted as Expert Presents New DNA Evidence

New evidence related to the terrorist attack on the Ibër Lepenc canal has been presented at the Basic Court in Pristina. Fatmir Ademi, a biologist at the Kosovo Forensic Agency and the second witness in the trial, said DNA samples from defendant Jovan Viqentijeviq had been identified on a detonating cord fuse at 20 of the 24 gene loci analyzed.

Ademi explained that the individuals included in the analysis were coded as S1 and S2 for Jovan Viqentijeviq, while S3 and S4 referred to Dragisha, and that matches with the relevant evidence were reflected in the DNA report. According to him, conclusion number 5 also included three items of evidence collected at the scene, from which mixed DNA profiles had been obtained and subsequently checked manually.

He said item of evidence number 4 was described as a 60-meter-long detonating cord fuse. During its examination, experts identified traces of S1, Jovan Viqentijeviq, at 20 of the 24 gene loci tested.

The expert said the analyses were conducted using the most advanced scientific methods, which are validated and based on written procedures applied uniformly by every expert. According to him, the One Studio Test instrument was used for the quantification setup procedure.

The same findings were also confirmed by an examination conducted at a laboratory in Rome. Ademi said there were no discrepancies between the report by the Italian experts and that of the Kosovo Forensic Agency.

According to him, the Italian report further strengthened the signal identified by Kosovar experts indicating the presence of traces from the person in question. He explained that the Italian experts, using their software and scientific methods, had linked S1 to one of the contributors to the three-person DNA mixture.

The forensic report states that the main traces belonged to the defendant. Ademi said S1 was the main contributor to the mixture and that the largest amount of genetic material belonged to Jovan Viqentijeviq, while smaller amounts belonged to two other unidentified individuals.

The hearing was halted by presiding judge Vesel Ismajli after the defense said it was not prepared to question the witness. Ismajli said today’s hearing would end there and that proceedings would resume tomorrow at 13:30. The next hearing will be held on Tuesday at 13:30.

At the hearing held on July 9, the defendants pleaded not guilty and waived the reading of the indictment.

The Special Prosecution alleges in the indictment that on November 29, 2024, in the village of Varagë in the Municipality of Zubin Potok, at the Ibër Lepenc canal, defendant Viqentijeviq, together with several other individuals who have yet to be identified, placed about 20 kilograms of Trinitrotoluene, or “TNT,” explosives inside the canal following a prior agreement.

According to the indictment, the Viqentijeviq brothers detonated the explosive material using a bag tied by rope to a concrete pillar. The explosion severely damaged the concrete structure of the Ibër Lepenc canal, disrupted the drinking water supply, endangered electricity generation and caused €376,774.70 in damage to the Ibër Lepenc company.

The indictment charges the Viqentijeviq defendants with the criminal offense of “Endangering the constitutional order through the destruction or damage of public installations,” under Article 122, in conjunction with “Commission of a terrorist offense.”