New “Monster” trial starts today

A renewed trial of the main suspects in the “Monster” case begins today. At the criminal court in Skopje, Agim Ismailovic, Haki Aziri, Sami Ljuta and Fejzi Aziri will sit on the defendants’ bench, while the international warrants for Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic are still active, although they have been in Kosovo for years. That is the time for an enigma is the name of the prosecutor who will represent the indictment, more precisely who will replace the prosecutor Gordana Geskoska, who claimed that everything was done legally and based on evidence. The new prosecutor in the case could make changes to the indictment.

For more than six years, Agim Ismailovic, Haki Aziri, Sami Ljuta, Fejzi Aziri, Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic have been charged with “terrorism” and are the main suspects in the murder of the four boys and fishermen on Smilkovo Lake.

Naser Raufi’s lawyer on several occasions for ‘Nezavisen/Independent’ newspaper said he expects the trial to be short-lived and that the real organizers and implementers of “Monster” will be known by name and surname. Raufi pointed out that the key to knowing the truth behind the “Monster” is ultimately six years later, lies in the “bombs” that Katica Janeva’s team of special prosecutors has made. She, however, despite the expectations of the defendant’s lawyer, has not yet requested this work to be under her authority.

The prosecution of this case is still in the hands of the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption. Although the new evidence is at the SPO, the case has not been requested so far.

The case will be tried by judges Ognen Stavrev and Osman Sabani, from whom Raufi expects to carry out their work professionally and have a fair trial.

Blerim Ismaili