Persons indicted

Defendant:
Anton Lekaj

Rank(s) of person(s) indicted

Defendant's rank: lower military

Indictment date

07/07/2005

Case stage

Case status: finally resolved

Duration of proceedings since trial commencement

1 year 7 months

Witnesses examined

23

Date and outcome of the first instance verdict

09/18/2006

First instance judgment: 13 years in prison

Date and outcome of decision on appeal

02/26/2007

Decision on appeal: Lower court's judgment confirmed

Date and outcome of verdict in new trial

/

Criminal offence

Criminal offence: war crime against civilian population, art. 142 (1) in re art. 22, Basic Criminal Act

Background facts

Background facts:
The court found that in the period between 12 and 16 June 1999, Anton Lekaj, at the time member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), aided and abetted by two unidentified KLA members, arrested and subsequently committed grave criminal offences (including torture, rape and murder) against a number of civilians who were allegedly loyal to the Serb forces during the armed conflict in Kosovo.

Procedural remarks

Procedural remarks:
Two alleged perpetrators were included in the indictment but not accused: one has deceased, and the other is unavailable to Serbia's authorities.