The bribe that unmasked the prosecutor

Prosecutor Shala is suspected of taking a bribe from lawyer Berisha to end the 48-hour detention measure.

On August 23, 2022, at 17:25 p.m., the now convicted SG, in the position of boss, physically attacked his employee BK at his workplace in a market in the village of Landovicë, Prizren.

Initially, SG had grabbed him by the throat and neck, and while dragging him out of the office, he had punched and kicked him.

As a result, BK had fallen to the floor.

However, SG did not stop, continuing to kick the injured party, thus causing minor bodily injuries.

The attack had occurred due to disagreements at work.

For this, the Kosovo Police arrested SG and, by order of the acting prosecutor of the General Department in Prizren, Beqë Shala, detained him for 48 hours.

However, Prosecutor Shala allegedly used this opportunity to take a bribe.

The video recording provided by "Oath for Justice" suggests that a few hours after the 48-hour detention measure was imposed, Prosecutor Shala had a meeting with the suspect's lawyer, SG, Drenushë Berisha.

At the next meeting, lawyer Berisha was accompanied by her husband, F. U, to prosecutor Shala's car.

Meanwhile, the recording of the discussion is suspected to have been done by lawyer Berisha herself.

In this discussion between them, Prosecutor Shala indicates that he had terminated the suspect's 48-hour detention.

"Lawyer Berisha: Okay, okay, you're tired, how are you doing?"
Prosecutor Shala: I issued the decision to release him immediately.

Lawyer Berisha: But when the family called me, they told me it was over, that they had taken that boy in the morning, that when I called you earlier, that when I wrote you, I had actually just gone to work. Now they had taken him in the afternoon. Prosecutor, I didn't know that I was lying, I really did, I took them yesterday, when I found out, I only took 700. Where did I see them, they brought them to me today. You know how it is, it's not like this has ever happened to me before and I didn't...
Prosecutor Shala: Look at me.

Lawyer Berisha: No, I got 700.

Prosecutor Shala: People do it.

Lawyer Berisha: Oh, I know, prosecutor, I'm probably young, and it's not like I've ever been in the situation I'm in now.
Prosecutor Shala: Look at this, the rent is paid, I didn't get it either. Do you know when, after a 5-year trust that I had with Beqë, not after a year, Beqë told me, does Beqë know, Shala, that people have been taken before in your name. They took (it's not clear) heeej. I don't say halal, they took it, do you understand? They took my breasts, they stuck them in my hand, they said, "Do you see it? I spoke to them, I know them," they go into the office and open the door, they say, "Do you see it?" I don't speak to them. Let's not complicate it."

So, lawyer Berisha says that she and the party were unaware that the prosecutor would ask for a bribe.

And that after setting the fee for her services as a lawyer at 700 euros, she understood this.

However, Prosecutor Shala expresses full confidence that the cooperation between them will remain confidential.

"Prosecutor Shala: I'm just going to lie to you, and I believe you."
Lawyer Berisha: No, I'm telling you the truth now.

Prosecutor Shala: Jom drudh thuj aa hahah (laughs).
Lawyer Berisha: No, honestly.

Prosecutor Shala: You are a lady.
Lawyer Berisha: No, that's not the point, I'm young, quiet, and I'm not normal, I've never been one to ask, in that relationship with you.

Prosecutor Shala: Yeah, I never have.
Lawyer Berisha: No, I'm calling you that now.

Prosecutor Shala: Oh my God.
Lawyer Berisha: No, work is perfectly normal.

Prosecutor Shala: By God.
Lawyer Berisha: But first, secondly, when I agreed with these people, I agreed in the office without you coming to ask, I agreed for the sessions until the end and I told them to pay me 700 euros. Yesterday they said, "Lawyer, when it comes out, we'll come and collect the money." Today they came and paid us 700 euros cent by cent.

So it follows that before the lawyer met on August 25, 2022, with Prosecutor Shala to hand over the money, they had already had a preliminary meeting and communication.

From these communications, the conversation suggests that the termination of the restraining order was discussed.

Under normal circumstances, if the lawyer were unaware of the action, as evidenced in the video recording, then she would presumably have to react to the prosecutor's attempt to take a bribe. However, it is proven that this did not happen.

Lawyer Berisha insisted on giving a 700 euro bribe to prosecutor Shala

Meanwhile, during their meeting, after the lawyer presents the 700 euros received from the defense for legal services, prosecutor Beqë Shala decides to divide it into two parts.

However, lawyer Berisha is generous, insisting that I give her the entire amount.

"Prosecutor Shala: Take our share (unintelligible)"
Lawyer Berisha: He was a prosecutor.

Prosecutor Shala: Yeah.
Lawyer Berisha: Not me, you know.

Prosecutor Shala: Take it, take it.
Lawyer Berisha: No, prosecutor, it was 700.

Prosecutor Shala: Take it.
Lawyer Berisha: It's no problem at all

Prosecutor Shala: Take it, take it, for God's sake. (unintelligible)

He counts the money.

Lawyer Berisha: 200.
Prosecutor Shala: How many did you have?

Lawyer Berisha: 200.
Prosecutor Shala: 250. How much did you say?

Lawyer Berisha: I received 700 by the end of the procedure.
Prosecutor Shala: Ahaa, here they have 200, 350. Good luck, let's see what happens."

Prosecutor Shala - to lawyer Berisha: You can see the good in him, I don't want him anymore

Next, prosecutor Shala leaves space for lawyer Berisha to speak again with the party, to ask for more money.

However, he says he doesn't want more for himself.

Meanwhile, when lawyer Berisha tells him that she will not ask for any more money from the party she is defending, nor will she inform him about the amount of 350 euros given, prosecutor Shala expresses satisfaction, saying "this is very clear."

In this conversation, he tells how they also commented on the injured party's expensive clothing.

"Prosecutor Shala: Yes, I know how they declare themselves. Even though this official knows everything, he knows how much money he gave, not to the poor guy, I see these things, our signatures are these.
Lawyer Berisha: I don't know if they told the entire procedure correctly, just the documents.

Prosecutor Shala: Even if he calls them to take them, you can see their good, I don't want that.
Lawyer Berisha: No, I did it too, I did it until the end of the procedure, because I go to the hearings when the indictment is filed with an agreement because that's how we agreed. In this case, it has nothing to do with the fact that we agreed yesterday, and now I can't even say it on behalf of the prosecutor, because my work is until the end.

Prosecutor Shala: Yes, for our work, this is very clear, you know, very clear.
Lawyer Berisha: You know, they have this for the session, for them.

Prosecutor Shala: You told him not to call me, right?
Lawyer Berisha: Well, well, well, not for anything else.

Prosecutor Shala: In short, he said they were dangerous, no, he didn't say dangerous, he said...
Lawyer Berisha: Today I have, thank you, lawyers, I have completed my payment until the end of the procedure with you, have a good day.

Prosecutor Shala: Even when you tell me that.
Lawyer Berisha: No, I'll call them to mediation now, when the expertise comes, they agree, it's an easy decision, he said, I'll leave it until the expertise comes. Prosecutor Qeshtut

Prosecutor Shala: Ishalla (unintelligible) cooperation.
Lawyer Berisha: "It's done."

Prosecutor Shala, accepting the money, says that it's not like he has any soul left in it, and hopes that they will see the good in it.

Meanwhile, he leaves the door open for lawyer Drenushë Berisha to continue corrupt collaboration, even showing her the house where she lives.

"Prosecutor Shala: You know what, it's not a job that leaves our souls in peace, we do it cleanly. Hec. I salute the man."
Lawyer: Have a good time.

Prosecutor Shala: Next time when you come..
Lawyer: I know my back.

Prosecutor Shala: At the crossroads there, at the other crossroads, on the road that continues...
Lawyer: Yes.

Prosecutor Shala: "C*****" restaurant, do you know?
Lawyer: Yes.

Prosecutor Shala: How come there are 100 meters to turn back..
Lawyer: If you're on the road, I'm going to get an apartment.

Prosecutor Shala: (Unintelligible).
Lawyer: Come on, good luck,

Prosecutor Shala: : I apologize to the man.
Lawyer: Thank you.

"Oath for Justice" has attempted to contact SG, but has not been able to.

After this meeting, prosecutor Beqë Shala filed an indictment against the suspect SG for committing the criminal offense of "slight bodily injury".

Based on his indictment, the Basic Court in Prizren issued a verdict sentencing him to a fine of 400 euros.

Shala did not appeal this verdict to the Court of Appeals for an increase in sentence.

So, ending the procedure with that.

However, the money he once hoped to see go to good use, three years later, was used as a reason for these to be the last moments he would enter the office as a prosecutor, before ending up in handcuffs as a suspect, pending another decision by the justice authorities.

Special Prosecutor reveals what was found during the raid on Prosecutor Shala's office and home

While the video recording was being handled by "Oath for Justice", it was also submitted to the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren.

"I received an envelope in my office along with a CD and a letter with 3-4 lines of writing from an anonymous citizen where he brought this video recording and informed us that in addition to bringing it to the prosecution, he also has a medium, namely a journalist, who we later found out who has it. I have submitted that material to the Special Prosecution Office and the prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office has been charged with the procedure," said the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu.

Upon receiving the evidence from Chief Prosecutor Kryeziu, the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office had secured reasonable suspicion for his arrest.

Therefore, after Prosecutor Shala had started work on the morning of Monday, October 27, the prosecutor of the Special Prosecution, Valdet Gashi, together with police investigators from the Serious Crimes Department, arrived at the Basic Prosecution Office of Prizren.

"The actions we have taken so far that are public are that after receiving the information and analyzing this information, we came to a well-founded conclusion that the prosecutor in question committed this criminal offense and on this basis we took the action where he was arrested," explained special prosecutor Valdet Gashi.

The Special Prosecution Office was informed that the "Oath for Justice" also possesses this video recording and that it is conducting research on it in order to publish it.

In order not to jeopardize the investigation process, the Special Prosecution Office has contacted the editorial staff of "Betimi për Drejtësi" to cooperate and not publish the video until concrete investigative actions are taken.

The editorial office has decided to cooperate with the Special Prosecution, which acted swiftly, arresting the defendant prosecutor Shala on Monday. Special prosecutor Valdet Gashi highly values ​​this form of cooperation, considering it a joint fight against official corruption.

"Yes, we are aware that the show "Oath for Justice" had such a video and you also did not publish it, and for this reason we appreciate this action of the show "Oath for Justice" because this has contributed a lot to the specific case and is the best way that such cooperation, such coordination is the best way to combat official corruption," said Special Prosecutor Gashi.

As part of this action, the office of Prosecutor Shala was initially raided.

The raid was then carried out at his home in Prizren.

"Prosecutor Gashi: During the raids or court search warrants, we found some evidence in these locations. In the prosecutor's office, we found some notes that are being examined to see if they are related to the suspicions against the prosecutor for whom the investigation has begun. Meanwhile, in the second location, 1700 in cash were found in his house, which have currently been seized and are being evaluated and examined as to where the money may have come from.
Journalist: His car was also seized since it was the object of the criminal offense, so the meeting took place in his car?
Prosecutor Gashi: At the moment, it has not been seized.

Lawyer Berisha denies being in video recording offering bribe to prosecutor Shala

"Oath for Justice" has contacted lawyer Berisha, who has denied being the person heard in the video with prosecutor Shala.

"Lawyer Berisha: Absolutely not. I have nothing to say. I received the notification in a completely different way, I have nothing to respond to or say."
Journalist: Are you in this video?
Lawyer Berisha: "I believe you called the wrong person. I have no knowledge, have a good time, ma'am."

However, at the beginning of the video recording, which is suspected to have been made by her, her husband FU is seen.

Asked about his presence, lawyer Berisha refused to provide clarification and hung up the phone.

"Journalist: At the beginning of the video, your husband is seen, what did your husband ask for in this video?"
Lawyer: "Have a good time, ma'am."

The special prosecutor does not say in what capacity lawyer Berisha was interviewed.

"Since we are in the early stages of the investigation, I would not have shared this information with the public because it could damage the integrity of the investigation," said SPRK prosecutor Valdet Gashi.

Sources say that prosecutor Shala has admitted that he was on video.

From this action, Prosecutor Gashi says that the suspect, Prosecutor Beqë Shala, has agreed to make a statement.

However, he did not indicate whether he admitted to receiving the money.

"Prosecutor Gashi: Yes, the prosecutor, after being arrested, was interviewed and what is important is that he agreed to make a statement before the prosecution, but as for what he specifically stated, I would ask for your understanding because I cannot disclose that information for now because we are in the early stages of the investigation.
Journalist: Has the same person admitted that he is in the video recording?
Prosecutor Gashi: I can't reveal it now, but what is important is that he has agreed to speak, he has not exercised his right to remain silent, but has agreed to speak."

However, sources from "Oath for Justice" have indicated that the defendant Shala has admitted that he is the one in the video recording.

However, in this case, prosecutor Shala claimed to have received offers from someone else.

Based on the video recording, he mentions the person Ymerli of the Kosova restaurant, who is Ymeri Pulaj, the brother of Shkodran Pulaj, who is now accused of several criminal offenses including bribery.

Prosecutor Shala says that the same person had contacted him, offering him money in exchange for his release.

"Prosecutor Shala: Do you know what happened after I went to the Kosova restaurant, when Ymerlia called me?"
Lawyer Berisha: Who? A Ymerlia.

Prosecutor Shala: The one from the restaurant. He's been doing it for days now, so now I know the lawyer. He used to have a friend from that village. That's it. I said you're kidding. He's being released today, he's been released. Do you know, he's been released.
Lawyer Berisha: Well, I didn't ask for anything.

Prosecutor Shala: No, I'm just saying how many days.
Lawyer Berisha: They probably saw it when I was there, or they called them by name, because I didn't.

Prosecutor Shala: No, you have the authorization. In short, I told him, do you know why, if you don't say anything later, no, my friend, I told him, we won't let you go into such a mess. Even if you damage the dog, the version is completely different, (unintelligible) you will wear expensive clothes.
Lawyer Berisha: "No, they do."

On the other hand, Pulaj denied having contacted Prosecutor Shala about this matter.

However, he claims that the same person visited his bar.

"Pulaj: Never for a case, for work, for any case, I would go to the prosecutor's office, I absolutely would not, but I have never interfered in my life with any prosecutor. I have never dealt with these things, never, never, never, I guarantee it with my life. He always comes and drinks coffee with a friend, with a colleague, with his own.
Journalist: Is there a nightclub in your place?
Pulaj: "But when I was there, 2 years ago, 2 and a half years ago, before the Shkodra case"

The Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren and the Special Prosecution Office investigated another case of Prosecutor Shala

But, the case in question is not an isolated one.

The method of receiving bribes by not sending suspects to detention for 48 hours or by not requesting pre-trial detention is suspected to have been a practice of Prosecutor Shala.

His arrest on Monday, October 27, was based on another case of committing the criminal offense of "taking a bribe."

The argumentation of this case was achieved through the implementation of the secret measure of simulation.

On October 11, 2025, at around 12 noon, Kosovo Police arrested five people: AA, DA, AA, BA and RA on "Drejtësia" street in Prizren on suspicion of "minor bodily harm".

The lawyer for the defendant RA was Miftar Qelaj.

A few hours after their arrest, Qelaj met with Prosecutor Shala in front of the Basic Prosecution Office building in Prizren, with the aim of informing him that the opposing side had weapons.

However, this information was allegedly ignored by Prosecutor Shala.

"On 11 October 2025, I received authorization from the family to provide protection to their relative at the police station, who was interviewed for a case that had previously occurred. After the interview with my client, he stated that he has reliable information that the other party possesses a weapon, in addition, I provided a video recording from the family that reflects part of the event on the critical day. Since it was a weekend and I had no other opportunity to notify the prosecutor in charge that day, I met him at the prosecutor's office in Russian, we exchanged several conversations with him regarding this part, although he ignored the fact that they are included in the decision to start the investigation and the statement that I gave to the prosecutor's office regarding the course of events, I cannot declare myself, the time will come when everything will come to light", said lawyer Qelaj.

Unlike Berisha, lawyer Miftar Qelaj broke the silence by denouncing the prosecutor.

Based on the request for pre-trial detention, according to the lawyer, Qelaj had moved directly to the request for bribery in order to avoid sending the five defendants to detention for 48 hours.

"On October 11, 2025, at around 15:30 PM, lawyer Miftar Qelaj, who was the authorized defense attorney of the defendant RA, met the prosecutor in front of the prosecutor's office in Prizren, who informed him that he had reliable information that the opposing party possessed weapons. The prosecutor ignored this information and addressed him with the words "do you want to let them go completely, but something must happen because they are going to hire a lawyer immediately for you and Blerim Mazreku, otherwise, do not talk about this matter anymore, the fifth one will go to detention", states the request for the imposition of the detention measure.

However, since Qelaj had not given a bribe, Prosecutor Shala ordered him to be detained for 48 hours.

After this meeting, Qelaj immediately reported the case to the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu.

Chief Prosecutor Kryeziu, using his authorizations, had issued the secret measure of simulation.

"The first case was presented by a citizen, in our opinion, an honorable and honest collaborator, for whom we continue to have respect, who did not choose to join the crime but chose to knock on the door of justice. On the weekend, on Sunday, he contacted me on the phone number, I did not know who it was, when he saw that he was not being notified, he left a text message and informed me that a colleague of mine was asking for a bribe. Within a few minutes, in this office where we are, I received the citizen, and there I opened the minutes immediately on Sunday, I took his statement and in addition to the statement, he also submitted material evidence that he will not make known at this stage", said the Chief Prosecutor of the Prizren Police Headquarters, Petrit Kryeziu.

In this case, the prosecution had applied covert measures, including simulation.

"What I can say and what I said in advance is that we have applied special investigative measures, at least 3 of them, one of them was a simulation, and it was expected that money would be exchanged. It is too early to share that part with you, but it will be clarified later in court," Kryeziu added.

Lawyer Qelaj had agreed to implement the simulation measure, responding to Prosecutor Shala's second attempt to take a bribe.

This time, he offered the option of not filing a request for a 30-day detention order.

For this, lawyer Qelaj met with prosecutor Shala the day after, on October 12.

".. meanwhile, on October 12, 2025 at around 10:23, through the "WhatsApp" application, the prosecutor calls the lawyer and they have a conversation, agreeing to meet physically. After a few minutes, the state prosecutor, in his gray "Seat" car, appears 30 meters near the lawyer's house in Prizren, where they meet and inform him that in exchange for the promise not to present the measure for the security of the defendant's presence in the procedure, the prosecutor himself should benefit materially," the request for the imposition of the detention measure states.

Qelaj says he cooperated with the prosecution because he felt legally obligated to do so.

Following the arrest, the prosecutor of the General Department in Prizren, Beqë Shala, has been suspended from duty by decision of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council.

Meanwhile, at the request of the Special Prosecution, the Basic Court in Pristina has imposed a detention order of 30 days.

However, his lawyer, Naim Rudari, says that there is no well-founded suspicion of committing the criminal offense of "bribery" in any of the cases being investigated by the prosecution.

"The imposition of the pre-trial detention measure was absolutely unnecessary, unreasonable, and also legally unsupported, just as the unlawful arrest itself was. There was no need or legal support for a state prosecutor to be arrested within a day in his office, in the presence of colleagues, in the presence of other parties, under the watchful eye of cameras, so it is more like a humiliation, belittling, and violation of dignity than the application of the law in a fair manner, to complete a necessary investigation," said Rudari.

Lawyer Rudari claims that there was incitement in the investigations conducted with the secret measure of simulation.

According to him, this happened after the prosecution failed to prove the video recording with lawyer Drenushë Berisha, therefore inciting the simulation measure.

Despite the fact that, according to the case files, the prosecution initially conducted investigations into the simulation with lawyer Miftar Qelaj, and then evidence of the video recording with lawyer Berisha arrived at the prosecution's address.

"Lawyer Rudari: The prosecution claims that a criminal offense occurred in August 2022 where some materials were published in the media and that even from those circumstances it results that it is not the fulfillment of the specific criminal offense, and that in the continuation and continuation to justify and argue what happened in 2022 it has been tried to simulate and in the simulation there is also stimulation which means incitement and stimulation which is absolutely legally prohibited.
Journalist: Who instigated the stimulation?
Lawyer Rudari: Yes, probably the prosecution, in a battle to secure evidence because
Journalist: The video recording was accepted by the prosecution based on the case files after the simulation was conducted.
Rudari: Who are you talking about?
Journalist: For the video recording of lawyer Drenushë Berisha.
Rudari: If the prosecutor's office had the evidence and arguments of the criminal offense in August 2022, it would have been able to act.

Chief Prosecutor Kryeziu said that there was no incitement in the simulation.

Chief Prosecutor Kryeziu: We are ready to confront evil, even when it comes from within the prosecution

On the other hand, he invited citizens to report any incriminating evidence against prosecutors or any other official.

"The fight against corruption does not stop at the doors of the prosecution, we are ready to face evil from whoever comes, even when this evil comes from within the prosecution, we will be more determined. Therefore, citizens should treat this case as an isolated case and by no means as a whole prosecution, because this institution has extraordinary prosecutors, there are honest prosecutors who remain faithful to the oath they have taken to work conscientiously and in the spirit of the law. Therefore, every citizen, as happened in this specific case, who has information can come freely now has an address, this case should increase the trust of citizens because we have proven it as the institution of the State Prosecutor, including the Chief Prosecutor of the SPRK and the Chief State Prosecutor, and then a special prosecutor who has investigated it in detail and taken it with great priority", said the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution in Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu.

On the other hand, the special prosecutor says that the investigation will be expanded depending on the outcome of the covert measures.

"Now, depending on the results of the investigations that we receive, the investigation may be expanded to other persons, whoever is involved in such cases," said SPRK prosecutor Valdet Gashi.

"Oath for Justice" sources within the Kosovo Police in Prizren have said that in several cases when suspects were arrested for committing a criminal offense, and prosecutor Shala was in charge, he did not immediately order a 48-hour detention or release.