The Basic Court in Pristina has approved the plea agreement reached between the Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) and the defendants Pajtim Krasniqi, Hazir Metaj, Valdete Ismajli and Veton Prekazi, accused in the well-known “Subsidies” case, after the criminal proceedings for 28 defendants were merged into a single case. The four defendants (together) were sentenced to a total of 25 thousand euros in fines and 1 year in prison.
In this case, the following are being accused: Hasan Maxharraj, Luan Statovci, Salih Statovci, Afrim Abazaj, Veton Prekazi, Kumrije Maxharraj, Kujtim Zariqi, Sadat Shkodra, Afërdita Gjokaj, Bejtullah Pira, Valdete Ismaili, Feriz Jonuzi, Alban Novosella, Berat Nika, Lulzim Hajdaraj, Musa Nivokazi, Bajram Gashi, Pajtim Krasniqi, Enver Ibishi, Artan Elezi, Bashkim Mani, Salih Ilazi, Halil Krasniqi, Almir Abdurrahmani, Ingrit Kuqi, Liridon Fandaj, Rasim Zekaj and Hazir Metaj, reports "Oath for Justice".
As for the four defendants who have reached a plea agreement, Pajtim Krasniqi is accused of aiding and abetting the criminal offense of "Accepting a bribe", Hazir Metaj of "Giving a bribe" and "Fraud with subsidies", Valdete Ismajli of "Giving a bribe" and Veton Prekazi of "Accepting a bribe".
The verdict was announced on Thursday by the president of the trial panel, Medie Bytyqi, with members Avni Syla and Leon Përlaska.
The defendants Krasniqi, Metaj, Ismajli and Prekazi were found guilty of the criminal offenses they were charged with.
According to the decision, the accused Metaj was sentenced to 6 months in prison and a fine of 400 euros for the criminal offense of "Giving a bribe". With the consent of the accused, the 6-month prison sentence was replaced by a fine of 3,600 euros.
Whereas, for the criminal offense of "Fraud with subsidies", the defendant Metaj was sentenced to a fine of 1 thousand euros. The Court imposed a single sentence of a fine in the amount of 5 thousand euros on him.
With this decision, the accused Pajtim Krasniqi was sentenced to a fine of 5 thousand euros and a prison sentence of 1 year, including the time spent in detention and house arrest.
The accused Veton Prekazi was sentenced to a fine of 10 thousand euros and a prison sentence of 6 months, which also includes the time spent under house arrest.
With the consent of the accused Prekazi, the 6-month prison sentence was replaced with a fine of 2 thousand euros. A single fine of 12 thousand euros was imposed on him.
Meanwhile, the defendant Valdete Ismajli was sentenced to a fine of 500 euros and a prison sentence of 6 months. With her consent, the prison sentence was replaced with a fine of 2,500 euros. Thus, a single sentence of a fine of 3,000 euros was imposed on her.
The court ordered the defendants to pay the fine specified in the provision of this judgment no later than three months after the entry into force of this judgment. In case of non-payment of the fine, it will be replaced by imprisonment, where one day of imprisonment is calculated as a 20 euro fine.
The accused are each ordered to pay the costs of the criminal proceedings, in the form of a lump sum of 150 euros, as well as in the form of a compensation for victims of crime, in the form of 50 euros, within 15 days from the entry into force of this judgment.
The injured party, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, is instructed to initiate a regular civil-legal dispute to realize the property-legal claim.
Otherwise, special prosecutor Rafet Halimi, in the session of March 10, 2026, had informed the trial panel that they had reached a plea agreement with the defendants, therefore, in the hearing session on the same day, the agreements regarding the amount of the sentence were presented, proposing to the court to approve them.
For the accused Krasniqi, it was proposed that he be sentenced to 6 months in prison and a fine of 5 thousand euros. The accused and his defense attorney, lawyer Nexhmedin Sejdiu, supported this agreement.
For the accused Metaj, a sentence of 6 months in prison and a fine of 400 euros was proposed for the criminal offense of "Bribery", while for "Fraud with subsidies" a sentence of 1 thousand euros in prison was proposed. A single sentence of 6 months in prison and a fine of 1 thousand 400 euros was proposed for him.
According to the prosecutor, with the consent of the accused Metaj, it was proposed that the 6-month prison sentence be replaced with a fine of 3,600 euros. Meanwhile, a joint sentence with a fine of 5,000 euros. The accused Metaj and his defense attorney, lawyer Blerina Maliqi, also stood by the agreement with the Prosecution.
For the accused Ismajli, a sentence of 6 months imprisonment was proposed, which sentence, with the consent of the accused, was replaced with a fine of 3 thousand euros.
Meanwhile, a fine of 10 thousand euros and a prison sentence of 6 months was proposed for the accused Prekazi. Given that the accused had been under detention and house arrest, a sentence of 2 thousand euros was proposed with his consent. The accused Prekazi and his defense attorney, lawyer Kaltrina Kodraliu, also said that they stand by the agreement reached.
Otherwise, in the session held on February 10, 2026, the following defendants were declared innocent: Hasan Maxharraj, Luan Statovci, Salih Statovci, Kumrije Maxharraj, Kujtim Zariqi, Sadat Shkodra, Afërdita Gjokaj, Bejtullah Pira, Feriz Jonuzi, Alban Novosella, Berat Nika, Lulzim Hajdaraj, Bajram Gashi, Artan Elezi, Bashkim Mani, Halil Krasniqi, Almir Abdurrahmani, Ingrit Kuqi, Liridon Fandaj and Rasim Zekaj.
Meanwhile, the procedure for the two accused Enver Ibishi and Musa Nivokazi was separated. On the other hand, for the accused Veton Prekazi, Hazir Metaj, Valdete Ismajli, Pajtim Krasniqi, Afrim Abazaj and Salih Ilazi, it was announced that they have reached a plea agreement with the Prosecution. For the last two, the announcement will be made at the end of the procedure.
Otherwise, the criminal proceedings in this case have been merged into a single case of "Subsidies" for 28 defendants: Hasan Maxharraj, Luan Statovci, Salih Statovci, Afrim Abazaj, Veton Prekazi, Kumrije Maxharraj, Kujtim Zariqi, Sadat Shkodra, Afërdita Gjokaj, Bejtullah Pira, Valdete Ismaili, Feriz Jonuzi, Alban Novosella, Berat Nika, Lulzim Hajdaraj, Musa Nivokazi, Bajram Gashi, Pajtim Krasniqi, Enver Ibishi, Artan Elezi, Bashkim Mani, Salih Ilazi, Halil Krasniqi, Almir Abdurrahmani, Ingrit Kuqi, Liridon Fandaj, Rasim Zekaj and Hazir Metaj. /Oath for Justice/
t7 live
