Court orders the release of Sabit Januzi and Ismet Bahtijari
The President of the Specialist Chambers (SC), Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, decided to modify the sentences of Sabit Januzi and Ismet Bahtijari and allowed their release on February 21, 2025, with the conditions set out in the respective decisions.
According to the court, these conditions will remain in force until the end of the sentences imposed by the Trial Panel, that is, for the remaining part of the two-year sentence imposed on each of them.
“In reaching her decision, the President consulted with the judges of the sentencing Panel, as provided for in Article 51(2) of the Law on Specialist Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor (“the Law”), and took into account the factors set out in Rule 196(3) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
The President found that, although the criminal offences of which Mr. Januzi and Mr. Bahtijari were found guilty were undoubtedly serious, given the consequences of witness intimidation for the administration of justice, there were several factors weighing in favour of modifying their sentences.
The procedure relating to the reduction, modification and amendment of sentences under Article 51(2) of the Law is a separate procedure.
When the convicted person has served two-thirds of the sentence, he or she meets the criteria for consideration for reduction, modification or commutation of the sentence, but is not entitled to have the sentence reduced, modified or commuted," the court statement said.
