The Prosecutor v. Fatmir Limaj, Isak Musliu, and Haradin Bala

Case Sheet · ICTY

The Prosecutor v. Fatmir Limaj, Isak Musliu, and Haradin Bala

Location Kosovo
Case Number IT-03-66
Case Name Limaj et al.
Status Closed · Sentence Served Acquitted 

Context

Fatmir Limaj alleged to have been a Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander responsible for the operation of the Lapušnik/Llapushnik area and the Lapušnik/Llapushnik KLA prison camp (about 25 km west of Priština/Prishtinë); alleged to have been known as “Çeliku”

Isak Musliu alleged to have been a KLA commander of the Lapušnik/Llapushnik area and the Lapušnik/Llapushnik prison camp, and at times to have acted as a guard at the Lapušnik/Llapushnik prison camp; alleged to have been known as “Qerqiz”

Haradin Bala was a guard at the KLA Lapušnik/Llapushnik prison camp; aka “Shala”

Pre-Trial

Initial Indictment 27 January 2003
Amended Indictments 25 March 2003
12 February 2004
Crimes Charged
Fatmir Limaj
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS

Isak Musliu
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS

Haradin Bala
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Crimes against humanity
Crime against humanity of murder · art. 5(a) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of torture · art. 5(f) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of imprisonment · art. 5(e) ICTYS
Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 5(i) ICTYS
Arrest and Transfer
Fatmir Limaj
18 February 2003 · Arrested by Slovenia · Transferred to ICTY 3 march 2003

Isak Musliu
17 February 2003 · Arrested by KFOR · Transferred to ICTY 18 February 2003

Haradin Bala
17 February 2003 · Arrested by KFOR · Transferred to ICTY 18 February 2003
Initial Appearance Fatmir Limaj
5 March 2003 · Plea: Not Guilty
27 February 2004 · Plea: Not Guilty

Isak Musliu
20 February 2003 · Plea: Not Guilty
27 February 2004 · Plea: Not Guilty

Haradin Bala
20 February 2003 · Plea: Not Guilty
27 February 2004 · Plea: Not Guilty

Trial

Trial Chamber Trial Chamber II · Judges: Judge Kevin Parker (Presiding), Judge Krister Thelin, Judge Christine Van Den Wyngaert
Trial Opening 15 November 2004
Trial Judgment 30 November 2005
Crimes at Trial Judgment
Haradin Bala
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Torture · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Sentencing Judgment Fatmir Limaj
Not Guilty

Isak Musliu
Not Guilty

Haradin Bala
13 years of imprisonment

Appeal

Appeals Chamber Appeals Chamber · Judges: Judge Fausto Pocar (presiding), Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Judge Andrèsia Vaz, Judge Theodor Meron, Judge Wolfgang Schomburg
Appeals Filed By Both
Appeal Judgment 27 September 2007
Crimes at Appeal Judgment
Haradin Bala
Violations of the laws or customs of war
Murder · art. 3 ICTYS
Torture · art. 3 ICTYS
Cruel treatment · art. 3 ICTYS
Final Sentence Fatmir Limaj
Not Guilty

Isak Musliu
Not Guilty

Haradin Bala
13 years of imprisonment
Transfer to Serve Sentence Haradin Bala
14 May 2008 · France
31 December 2008 · Early release

Key Documents

Second Amended Indictment Second Amended Indictment (2003)
Trial Judgment Trial Judgment (2005)
Appeal Judgment Appeal Judgment (2007)
ICTY Case Page Official ICTY page