Kosovo arrests North Macedonia man jailed for life in ‘Monster’ case

English

Gazeta Express

02/04/2021 16:42

North Macedonia citizen Afrim Ismajlovic convicted in absentia for the killing of five Macedonians in 2012 in a case known as “Monster” has been arrested in Kosovo on Thursday. Ismajlovic and five other Albanians were found guilty in February by a court in Skopje of the killings and jailed for life.

Ismailovic was arrested by the Kosovo Police after he was involved in a traffic accident near capital Pristina. He was summoned for an interview in the police station and after verification of his criminal background, the police found out that there was an arrest order against Ismailovic by North Macedonia authorities. A prosecutor of the case ordered a 48 hour custody.

His lawyer Besnik Berisha told Gazeta Express that the arrest order is of 2012-2013 claiming the arrest of his client was illegal.

On 23 February the Skopje’s Criminal Court sentenced Alil Demiri, Agim Islailovic, and Afrim Ismailovic to life in prison; Fejzi Aziri received 15 years in prison, and Haki Aziri nine years in prison. They were found guilty of murdering five ethnic Macedonians on 12 APril, 2012, near Smilkova lake. Sami Luta was acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Ali Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic were convicted in absentia. The Court’s decision promoted protests of Albanians in Skopje who say the convicted Albanians are not involved in the killing and blamed secret services for the tragic incident which back in 2012 raised ethnic tensions. /GazetaExpress/