30 days of detention for five police officers suspected of causing the death of Agon Zejnullah

Five police officers, suspected of causing the death of 27-year-old Agon Zejnullahu, have been sentenced to 30 days in pre-trial detention during his arrest in Lipjan. The legal representative of the deceased's family was not allowed to be present at the hearing, which took place under strict security measures at the Lipjan branch of the Basic Court of Pristina. In order to shed light on the case, investigations are underway at several levels, including the Ombudsman's Office.

Five police officers arrested on Monday on suspicion of causing the death of 30-year-old Agon Zejnullahu in Lipjan have been remanded in custody for 27 days.

The hearing was held at the Pristina Basic Court Branch, in Lipjan, where the arrested police officers were brought under high security measures, accompanied by officials from the Police Inspectorate.

The Court announced that the measure against the police officers was imposed due to the well-founded suspicion that they committed the criminal offense of "Murder by Negligence".

"After holding the hearing, the pre-trial judge assessed that the imposition of a detention order in this criminal case is an adequate measure at this stage of the procedure and that any other measure would be insufficient for the successful implementation of the criminal procedure," the announcement states.

Before the start of the hearing, the lawyer hired by the Zejnulahu family, Asdren Hoxha, said that they were not allowed to participate in the hearing as the injured party.

"The pre-trial judge refused me to participate in the hearing and remain informed as a representative of the injured party. I asked for clarification and insisted, but the approach was such that I should not participate. The Criminal Procedure Code does not expressly provide for the presence of the injured party in the determination of the security measure, but it was right for the injured party to have a dignified approach," Hoxha emphasized.

After the hearing, as the parties were awaiting the Court's decision, lawyer Besnik Berisha, who represents one of the suspected police officers, said that there are no valid legal reasons for the police officers' detention.

"Today, the detention measure was requested for only one reason, because relations are strained between the injured party and the arrested police officers. This in itself does not constitute a legal reason, this is actually an alarm for the security of our country, because it is becoming clear that anyone who has problems with justice, or is awaiting justice, and anyone to whom the police for one reason or another have caused harm without being ascertained by the court, should be placed in detention," said Berisha.

The Prosecution accuses five police officers of negligently killing 27-year-old Zejnullahu during his arrest in the early hours of Monday.

The police officers were initially suspended from duty and then arrested by order of the prosecutor.

Videos of Zejnullah's arrest have been published in the media, sparking widespread reactions. The deceased's family has accused the police of using excessive force, leading to his death.

There were also reactions from institutional representatives, including President Vjosa Osmani, Acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, and Acting Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, who called for a swift and fair investigation into the case.

The Ombudsman's Institution announced on Tuesday that it has opened an investigation into the case, to see if human rights were violated during the 27-year-old's arrest.

After his death, Zejnullah's body was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy. The autopsy report is expected to clarify the circumstances of his death.