EU Kosovo Police Detain Three Corruption Suspects

A senior official of the Pristina municipality has been detained by EULEX police on Wednesday, along with two businessmen, suspected of corruption and extortion.

One suspect is Sami Hamiti, president of Pristina’s city assembly.

The two other are Agim Ademi and Muharrem Rama, both involved in the construction trade.

Blerim Krasniqi, spokesperson of EULEX, told BIRN that three persons were arrested Wednesday but did not reveal any names.

“They are suspected of extortion and other acts linked with corruption,” the spokesperson explained.

Sources told BIRN that Hamiti was visited this morning by four EULEX police officers in his office and left with them without being hand-cuffed.

The spokesperson for the city of Pristina, Asdren Osaj, told BIRN that all questions related to the case should be addressed to EULEX, since no official note was sent to the municipality to clarify the allegations against Hamiti.

Tome Gashi, the defence attorney of Hamiti, confirmed that his client would be interviewed on Wednesday afternoon by a EULEX prosecutor related to a suspected case of corruption.

He said he had been notified by the European prosecutor that an investigation had been opened against Hamiti, but that no other details were provided to him.