The Trial Panel of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague today announced the verdict in the trial against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selim and Jakup Krasniqi.
According to the verdict, the four defendants were found criminally responsible for war crimes related to the arbitrary detention of 385 people, the cruel treatment of 49 people, the torture of 303 people, and the unlawful killing of 96 people.
At the same time, the Trial Chamber declared all four former KLA leaders not guilty of crimes against humanity, as the Specialist Prosecutor failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that a widespread or systematic attack was committed against a civilian population.
The defendants have also been found not guilty in connection with a number of other war crimes incidents.
Regarding the sentences, the Trial Panel has decided that Hashim Thaçi be sentenced to 25 years in prison, Kadri Veseli to 18 years, Rexhep Selimi to 13 years, and Jakup Krasniqi to 25 years in prison.
The sentences imposed also take into account the time that the four former KLA leaders have spent in detention.
In total, the sentences imposed by the Special Court against the four defendants amount to 81 years in prison.
