The Serbian Zoran Vukotić, accused of war crimes during Kosovo War, 1999, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. The verdict is taken in Mitrovica Court before a trial panel of EULEX judges.
Vukotić was found guilty for the Count 3 of the indictment charging him for torture against Albanians who were detained in the Smerkonica prison in 1999. In its verdict, the Court declared him unguilty about the indictment relating to the crime that he had participated in the crimes conducted in the village of Studime in Vushtrri.
Vukotić was accused with crimes related to the crimes committed in the village Studime e Epërme and Studime e Poshtme and the inhumane treatment and torture of Albanians imprisoned in the Smrekonic prison.According to the indictment filed by the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK), the accused Zoran Vukotic between May 2 and 3, 1999, in his capacity as a reserve police officer from the police station in Vushtrri, in cooperation with other persons from the ranks of Serbian forces, participated in the attack on the Albanian civilian population who was traveling in the column from the village of Studime e Poshtme to Studime e Epërme.
Following the indictment, it was stated that during this time, the civilian population was deliberately subjected to brutal and illegal murders, inhuman treatment, endless suffering, deportation, and the application of terrorism measures.
Based on the indictment among those civilians who were killed, wounded and treated in an inhumane manner for what the defendant Zoran Vukotic is responsible for, are Ekrem Mullaku, Xhavit Mullaku, Fatmir (Ahmet) Gërxhaliu, Eshref Rashica, Adnan Bunjaku, Rrahmon Ademi, an unidentified 14 year old, Haki Ademi, Shaip Gërxhaliu, Musa Gërxhaliu, Bajram Gërxhaliu, Bahrije Gërxhaliu and Avdi Gërxhaliu.
He was also accused that in May to early June, 1999, as a reservist at the police station in Vushtrri, as a prison guard, in cooperation with other members of the Serbian forces, participated in the illegal detention of a large number of the Albanian civilians in the Smrekonic penitentiary in the Mitrovica region, during which period these civilians were intentionally exposed to the inhumane treatment, great suffering, to torture and beatings for which Zoran Vukotic is personally responsible.
But, during his defense, he stated that he had never been to Studime.
"I have never been in Studime village either before or during the bombing. The first time I saw Studime was, was the day when the prosecutor presented me the map here and pointed to where it was. ..." Vukotić said.