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Pre-Trial Conference and Start of trial of Beqa Beqaj Scheduled for Monday, 25 April 2005

Press Release . Communiqué de presse

(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)


REGISTRY:
GREFFE:


The Hague, 21 April 2005

CVO/MOW/964e




PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE AND START OF TRIAL OF BEQA BEQAJ SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, 25 APRIL 2005






Please be advised that the pre-trial conference in the Beqa Beqaj case will be held on Monday, 25 April 2005 at 2.15 p.m. (instead of Friday, 22 April 2005 as previously scheduled) in Courtroom I followed by the start of the trial.


Background


On 21 October 2004, an indictment was issued against Beqa Beqaj containing charges of "contempt, attempted contempt and incitement to contempt of the Tribunal". This indictment was confirmed by the Trial Chamber on 29 October 2004.


The indictment against Beqa Beqaj, a relative of Isak Musliu, states that "From on or about 17 February 2003 through to on or about 19 October 2004, Beqa Beqaj individually and in concert with others (…), knowingly and willfully interfered with the administration of justice by threatening, intimidating, offering a bribe to or otherwise interfered with witnesses or potential
witnesses…"
in the Limaj et al. case. The trial of Fatmir Limaj, Haradin Bala and Isak Musliu started on 15 November 2004 and is ongoing. The Prosecution completed their case-in-chief on 14 April 2005 and the Defence case will start on 17 May 2005.


On 5 November 2004, Beqa Beqaj was transferred to the Tribunal. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment during his initial appearance on 8 November 2004.


On 20 April 2005 Beqa Beqaj returned from his provisional release which had been granted on 8 March 2005.


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