The Prosecutor v. Pjetër Shala
Case Sheet · KSC
The Prosecutor v. Pjetër Shala
| Case Number | KSC-BC-2020-04 |
| Status | End of Appeal |
Context
Pjetër Shala was a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) stationed in Kukës, Albania. The charges relate to crimes committed between approximately 17 May 1999 and 5 June 1999 against persons detained at the Kukës Metal Factory, used by the KLA as a detention and interrogation site. The victims were persons suspected of collaborating with Serbian authorities or not sufficiently supporting the KLA. On 16 July 2024, Trial Panel I found Shala guilty of the war crimes of arbitrary detention, torture, and murder and sentenced him to 18 years of imprisonment. He was acquitted of cruel treatment. On 14 July 2025, the Appeals Panel affirmed the convictions but reduced the sentence to 13 years. This is the second war crimes judgment of the KSC.
Pre-Trial
| Indictment Submitted | 14 February 2020 |
| Indictment Confirmed | 12 June 2020 |
| Crimes at Indictment | War Crimes War crime of arbitrary detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of cruel treatment · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of torture · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of murder · art. 14(1)(c) LSC |
| Arrest Warrant Issued | 12 June 2020 |
| Arrest | 16 March 2021 · Arrested by Belgium · Transferred to KSC 15 April 2021 |
| Initial Appearance | 19 April 2021 · Plea: Not Guilty |
| Case Transmitted to Trial Panel | 21 September 2022 · Trial Panel I |
Trial
| Trial Panel | Trial Panel I · Judges: Judge Mappie Veldt-Foglia, (Presiding), Judge Judge Roland Dekkers, Judge Gilbert Bitti, Judge Vladimir Mikula (Reserve Judge). |
| Trial Opening | 21 February 2023 |
| Trial Judgment | 16 July 2024 |
| Crimes at Trial Judgment | War Crimes War crime of arbitrary detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of torture · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of murder · art. 14(1)(c) LSC |
| Sentence | 18 years of imprisonment |
Appeals
| Appeals Panel | Judges: Judge Michèle Picard, Judge Kai Ambos, Judge Nina Jørgensen |
| Appeals Judgment | 14 July 2025 |
| Crimes at Appeals Judgment | War Crimes War crime of arbitrary detention · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of torture · art. 14(1)(c) LSC War crime of murder · art. 14(1)(c) LSC |
| Protection of Legality | 9 March 2026 · Rejected |
| New Sentence Determination | 13 years of imprisonment |
Reparations
| Reparations Order | 29 November 2024 |
| Amount | 208,000 euros |
| Appeal on Reparations | 29 January 2026 · Reparations Order confirmed |
Key Documents
| Arrest Warrant | Arrest Warrant (2020) |
| Confirmation of Indictment Decision | Decision on Confirmation of the Indictment (2020) |
| Operative Indictment | Operative Indictment (2021) |
| Trial Judgment | Trial Judgment (2024) |
| Appeals Judgment | Appeals Panel Judgment (2025) |
| Reparations Order | Reparations Order (2024) |
| KSC Case Page | Official KSC page |