Kosovo's Special Prosecutor's Office yesterday (29 July) expanded an investigation of the governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo to include additional charges of "abusing official position" and "receiving bribes," EULEX said.
"The matter involves the issuing of operating licences in relation to insurance companies during the period 2006 to 2008," the EU's mission in Kosovo said in a statement.
Local media report that Central Bank Governor Hashim Rexhepi was arrested on 23 July in Pristina as part of a corruption investigation. Raids were conducted at the Central Bank's offices, a private company and private properties of four suspects, including Rexhepi.
EULEX said the searches began after information surfaced indicating abuse of power, bribery, tax evasion and money laundering.
Also on 29 July, EULEX reported having carried out searches of the private residence and office of an IT administrator in the Kosovo government related to an investigation of the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications.
As EurActiv recently reported, a top official at Kosovo Post and Telecom, Shyqyri Haxha, was charged with "financial and corruption matters in connection to a telecommunications licence".
Last May, the coalition government in Kosovo almost fell as a result of a corruption scandal involving Transport Minister Fatmir Limaj, charged following raids carried out by EULEX (EurActiv 12/05/10). That investigation is still ongoing.
War crimes also targeted
EULEX also carried out searches to investigate war crimes by the KLA, the Kosovo Liberation Army, a guerilla organisation which sought the separation of Kosovo from Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
According to the local press, EULEX police officers raided the home of Azem Syla, a former commander of KLA, on Wednesday (28 July) as part of an investigation into the so-called Bllaca case.
During a videotaped confession in November 2009, Nazim Bllaca, who has been charged by EULEX with murder, attempted murder, aggravated murder and organised crime, said he had acted as an accomplice to murder, torture and threatening action carried out by the Kosovo Intelligence Service, a faction believed to be close to the ruling Democratic Party.
Bllaca then confessed that some of the orders came from Syla. He was not at home during Wednesday's search, but is to appear before the Special Prosecutor next week.
