(Updated 14:15) -
39 people were arrested on Thursday after an action by the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren in all regions of Kosovo regarding suspicions of fraud in the Kosovo Security Bureau (BKS). Among those arrested are the former director of BKS, Sami Mazreku, and the former director of the Finance Department at BKS, Valon Berisha. In a press conference, the Chief Prosecutor of this Prosecution Office, Petrit Kryeziu, said that they have also managed to block money worth over 1 million and 300 thousand euros in bank accounts.Kryeziu announced that the investigation into this matter began in March 2025. There were 46 people targeted for arrest. Seven suspects who have not been arrested are abroad.
"We are talking about a case where we have warrants for the search of 47 houses. A legal entity is also involved. It is about abuses in BKS. The targets of the investigations were the former executive director, Sami Mazreku, and the former director of the BKS Finance Department, Valon Berisha," he said.
The Chief Prosecutor said that there is a suspicion that Mazreku and Berisha, by abusing authorizations from the BKS, have made themselves large profits and caused damage to the Bureau of over 1 million euros. They are suspected of committing this fraud through various persons.
"They have misused economic authorizations and made forged documents. They have caused damage to the Bureau of 1,043,000 euros. We have encountered 166 suspicious transactions - 25 of which relate to the 12 people with whom they had reached fictitious out-of-court settlements, allegedly as authorizers of people who had previously had traffic accidents. And they have compensated them in 2022 and 2023, while the people have been compensated in previous years," Kryeziu declared.
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Continuation of detention requested for suspects in fraud at the Insurance Bureau
The smallest transaction amount was, according to him, 6,800 euros and the highest 68 thousand euros.
"We have targeted 46 individuals for arrest - 39 have been arrested, for whom the Prosecution has issued a detention order. Today's action has included the entire territory of Kosovo. There has been no region without raids and arrests in this matter," he added.
Kryeziu said that in the operation they seized 23,700 euros, gold, accessories, various watches, and electronic devices, and emphasized the close cooperation with financial intelligence, where he said they managed to block 1 million 300 thousand 886 euros.
Kryeziu added that 7 other suspects are not in Kosovo.
"While 7, based on investigative and operational actions in the field, result to be outside Kosovo, however, investigative actions will not stop in their direction and each one, for the actions they have taken and their illegality, will be held accountable before the justice authorities. We will take care that within the framework of the mandate, we ensure that the injured party, BKS, is compensated cent by cent. That is why we have frozen even more assets than those who are suspected of having misused it, but let's not forget that we are in an early stage and we can expand even further", he stressed.
Prizren Prosecution with action in several cities, BKS says it denounced suspected violations
A major action is underway in all municipalities of Kosovo, led by the Prizren Prosecution Office. This action is being carried out by a significant number of prosecutors from the Prizren Basic Prosecution Office.
The news was announced to KOHĖNA by the Chief Prosecutor of Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu, while confirming that the target is 40 suspects.
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Detention for four of the 39 arrested on suspicion of BKS fraud
"I can confirm that we are still in action and the action involves all municipalities of Kosovo. It is being led by the Prizren Prosecutor's Office. We are talking about over 40 suspects," Kryeziu said in a response to KOHA.
It is reported that the action is being carried out in connection with the commission of the criminal offenses of "breach of trust", "abuse of authorizations in the economy", "assistance in the abuse of trust" and document falsification.
So far, several people have been arrested in the regions of Prizren, Pristina, Peja, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Mitrovica and Gjakova.
The Chief Prosecutor of Prizren, Petrit Kryeziu, emphasized that a press conference will be held after the end of the action.
Oath for Justice has reported that among those arrested in Thursday's action being conducted by the Economic Crimes Unit of the Kosovo Police and the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren, are Sami Mazreku, former director of the Kosovo Security Bureau, and the former director of Finance at the BKS, Valon Berisha.
Prosecution's action, BKS says it initiated the case for investigation itself
The Kosovo Insurance Bureau (KIB) has announced that the action led by the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren was initiated by the KIB itself in its capacity as the injured party, as a result of the findings identified in the Internal Audit report.
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39 suspects arrested for damage of over 1 million euros caused to the Insurance Bureau
The BKS said that after identifying serious violations and suspicions of abuse, it took immediate legal action, addressing the relevant findings to the competent law enforcement and justice bodies.
"The Kosovo Insurance Bureau has cooperated and continues to cooperate fully and actively with the Kosovo Prosecution and Police, making available all documentation and information necessary for the conduct of investigations," the announcement states.
