Kosovo: Former Transport Minister Faces Second Corruption Indictment

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Fatmir Limaj, Kosovo’s former transport minister, says he is not involved in corruption or organized crime despite a second round of indictments last month. Limaj has said the charges are based on “prejudice, absurd things and speculation.”

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March 27th, 2014
Corruption Justice System

 Limaj told a court Wednesday, “If this indictment was a screenplay, a good movie could be made, based on it.” 

Prosecutors with the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo filed charges in February against Limaj and four others. The indictment, cited by BalkanInsight says,

“[The defendants] manipulated tender procedures, engaged in giving and receiving bribes and obstructing evidence with regard to the conduct of two tenders under the authority of the Ministry of Transport.” 

According to the prosecution, the corrupt practices cost the Ministry of Transport budget more than US $1.2 million.  Johannes Pickert, the prosecutor, said the crimes were committed in 2008 while Limaj was still minister. 

Limaj had been accused of corruption and money laundering in a separate case in 2013.  The so-called “MTPT case” – for Ministry of Transport and Post-Telecommunication – involved alleged offenses between 2008 and 2012. 

The ex-minister, a former commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army, was arrested in 2003 and charged by the International Criminal Tribunal of former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes against Serbs and Albanians including illegal imprisonment, cruel treatment, inhuman acts, and murders in Lapusnik prison camp.

He was acquitted of all charges in September 2013.

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