Skenderaj Mayor Sami Lushtaku and his co-defendants Ismet Haxha, Rrustem Rukolli, Rexhep Xhota, Fatmir Mjaku, Skender Tahiri, Bajram Dibrani and Sheremet Jashari are awaiting closing arguments at the Basic Court in Prishtina in a case in which they are accused of organized crime and intimidating protected witnesses in the “Drenica 1” case, KosovaPress reports.

At the previous hearing, the defendants decided to remain silent in their defense.

The trial in this case is continuing on counts 16, 17 and 18 of the indictment.

The other counts of the indictment also included Emrush Thaqi, Shemsi Hajrizi, Sahit Jashari, Mergim Lushtaku, Dardan Geci, Bashkim Dervisholli, Valon Behramaj, Argjent Behramaj, Yll Blakaj, Gzim Ahmeti, Xhevdet Zena, Mervete Hasani-Lushtaku, Agim Ukaj, Ismail Dibrani, Sami Gjoka and Nexhib Shatri.

On April 5, 2018, the Basic Court in Prishtina rejected the defense's requests to dismiss the indictment and challenge the evidence, reasoning that the criminal offense had not become time-barred and that the defense had not presented sufficient evidence to support its requests. The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeals in July 2018.

Meanwhile, on April 14, 2020, the Basic Court in Prishtina issued a verdict in the case concerning the escape of former Skenderaj Mayor Sami Lushtaku and others from the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK) in 2014, while Lushtaku was receiving medical treatment and was in detention in the “Drenica” case.

Regarding the escape from UCCK, the court acquitted Lushtaku of the charges, while sentencing him to a €12,000 fine for two other escapes, which took place on August 21, 2015, and September 22, 2015.

Meanwhile, EULEX prosecutor Romulo Matues indicted Sami Lushtaku and others on November 17, 2016, on several criminal charges related to the escape of Lushtaku and others from UCCK. They had been convicted in the case known as the “Drenica Group” and had gone to UCCK to receive medical treatment due to health problems.