Five police officers in Kosovo have been handcuffed on charges of ill-treatment of citizens in Prizren.
Local media say that their arrest was made possible by the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, as these police officers are suspected of using their force against citizens, during an incident that occurred in July last year in Prizren.
According to the PIK, sufficient evidence is being obtained in this case, including the recordings that have been published in the media these days.
Meanwhile, a sergeant and four police officers ended up in police custody.
They were also detained for 48 hours and suspended from official duty.
Full notice:
The Kosovo Police Inspectorate (KPI) had received a complaint regarding a citizen's allegations of exceeding police authority during the use of force by some police officers in an incident that occurred in July last year in Prizren.
Upon receiving the case, KPI investigators were engaged in undertaking investigative actions related to this case in coordination with the Basic Prosecution in Prizren, which included taking statements from eyewitnesses and providing some audio recordings in recent days.
Following the investigative actions, in consultation with the Prizren Prosecutor's Office, KPI investigators arrested today five police officers who were involved as suspects in this incident (a sergeant and four police officers - all employees of the Special Operations Unit).
Their arrest was made on suspicion that they had committed the criminal offense of "ill-treatment while on duty" and "minor bodily injury" and by decision of the Basic Prosecution in Prizren they were detained for 48 hours and have been suspended from duty.