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The Tribunal's Trial Chamber II yesterday granted the Prosecution's motion to amend the indictment against Ramush Haradinaj, former senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj, former members of the KLA .
The accused are charged with participation in a joint criminal enterprise the purpose of which was the consolidation of total control of the KLA over its operational zone of Dukagjin by attacking and persecuting certain sections of the civilian population there, namely by unlawfully removing Serb civilians from that area, and forcibly and violently suppressing any real or perceived
form of collaboration with the Serbs by Albanian or Roma civilians there. The criminal purpose included the intimidation, abduction, imprisonment, beating, torture and murder of targeted civilians. The specific charges against the accused include murder, rape, harassment, inhumane acts, destruction of property, unlawful detention, deportation or forcible transfer of civilians, cruel
treatment and other inhumane acts.
The amendments are contained in counts 35, 37, 38 and 39 of the indictment and refer specifically to several additional ways in which the alleged mistreatment of a witness is said to have occurred, as well as an event in which two other persons were mistreated, and a small group of individuals was forcibly displaced.
In allowing the amendments, the Trial Chamber ruled that the changes will not cause prejudice to the accused or delay proceedings unduly.
Due to the fact that the amendments constitute new charges, a further initial appearance will be scheduled in due course.
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Courtroom proceedings can be followed on the Tribunal's website.
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