At the Basic Court in Pristina, Ernes Kërqeli, director of the water regeneration department at Ibër-Lepenc, testified about the critical night of November 24, 2024, when the terrorist attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal took place.
He said the damage caused to the Ibër-Lepenc canal amounted to more than €376,000.
Kërqeli told the trial panel that six pipes were installed that night to prevent the water supply to Kosovo B from being cut off.
He further said that on November 24, when the attack occurred, the company’s team managed to restore only 75% of the supply.
According to him, the water supply system was cut off for three to four days.
“On the critical night, we managed to restore only 75% of the regular supply. After the attack occurred, around 2:00 a.m., we managed to put the first solution into operation. After that, this solution was not functional due to the damage in the final section, so we continued with another solution. The water supply was interrupted for three to four days, and after five days, the water supply systems were initially unable to operate at full capacity,” he said.
The damage, amounting to more than €376,000, was repaired through a project funded by the World Bank.
The Ibër-Lepenc representative said he had never met any of the defendants.
He was also asked by the presiding judge, Vesel Ismajli, who was present at the scene.
“Police forces, KFOR and our workers, who arrived before I did. We did not begin repairs until the investigators gave us approval. They were collecting samples, and other experts also arrived,” he said.
Kërqeli said he did not notice any human traces.
He said the damage to Kosovo could have amounted to millions of euros had action not been taken that same night.
