Kosovo Ex-Guerrilla Sent to Face Charges at Hague War Court

Pjeter Shala, a former Kosovo Liberation Army fighter, was transferred to a detention centre in The Hague on Thursday evening after the Kosovo Specialist Chambers confirmed a four-count indictment charging him with war crimes.

Shala, 57, who was arrested in Belgium last month, is to make an initial appearance before a pre-trial judge on Monday.

He is charged with arbitrary detention, cruel treatment, torture and murder in the northern Albania town of Kukes, at a metal factory which indictment claims was used by the KLA as a detention centre.

"The alleged crimes with which Mr Shala is charged took place between approximately 17 May 1999 and 5 June 1999 against persons detained at the Kukes Metal Factory (Albania) allegedly used by the Kosovo Liberation Army," the Kosovo Specialist Chambers said in a statement.

The indictment names two other KLA ex-fighters, Sabit Geci and Xhemshit Krasniqi, as members of a "joint criminal enterprise" along with Shala.

"Each member of the joint criminal enterprise, by their acts or omissions, contributed to achieving their common purpose. Alternatively, some or all of these individuals were not members of the JCE, but were used by members of the JCE to carry out crimes committed in furtherance of the common purpose," the redacted indictment says.

It also alleges that between approximately May 17, 1999 and June 1999, Shala and other KLA members including Geci and Krasniqi detained several people "without due process of law" at the Kukes Metal Factory.

"They were held under armed guard in makeshift cells, handcuffed and tied, relieved of travel documents and money, and subjected to acts of cruel treatment and torture," the indictment claims.

Shala was arrested last month in...