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Selim's Defense: The Prosecution Failed to Prove the Accusations

Rexhep Selimi

The defense team of former MP Rexhep Selimi began presenting its closing arguments at the Special Court on Thursday afternoon. 

His lawyer, Geoffrey Roberts, stated that Selimi is completely innocent and that the Specialist Prosecutor's Office has failed to prove the alleged crimes.

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Roberts, at the beginning of his closing arguments, said that "unlike the prosecution, they have nothing to hide regarding the nature and content of their evidence."

"Selim is completely innocent of each of the crimes alleged in the indictment as the defense has proven extensively in the final file. The SPO has simply failed to fulfill its obligation to prove any of these alleged crimes beyond a reasonable doubt, that's it and that's our issue, in short, our position... The SPO must present evidence to prove the allegations against Selim beyond a reasonable doubt, in all of these respects the SPO has failed to do so more than clearly," he said.

At the hearing, Kadri Veseli's defense completed the presentation of the closing statement, which it began on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the defense team of former president Hashim Thaçi, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, and the victims' defense have already completed their closing arguments.

Closing statements by the parties in the largest judicial process in The Hague began on Monday at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague.

Closing statements have begun with the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, where Chief Prosecutor Kimberly West has requested 45 years in prison for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.

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Defense statements continue in Speciale

•Thursday, February 12: Kadri Veseli's closing speech concludes and Rexhep Selim's begins•...