Location of alleged crimes

Del Ponte, a former Chief Prosecutor at ICTY, writes in her book that she received information about a number of Serbs being taken into captivity during the Kosovo war. According to those sources they were then transported to northern Albania where their organs were removed to be sold abroad.

Arben Dyla, Mat District prosecutor, who accompanied the ICTY investigators in 2004 when they visited Albania, explains in detail how the investigators could not find any evidence for their suspicions.

“I remember it was spring, date 5th of February 2004. I was informed by the Chief Public Prosecutor to accompany 15 people from the war crimes tribunal in The Hague in connection with the alleged presence of a KLA jail in the District of Mat. I received them and they were accommodated at a hotel. The next day we headed towards the place they were looking for. I did not know the exact address. They told me they were looking for a characteristic house, and guided us directly to the kulla [Albanian stone house] of Abdulla Katuci. They knew about the house because they were in possession of a picture. I informed the owner of the house about the verifications and asked whether he had had in his house refugees from Kosovo, members of KLA, or Serb soldiers taken in captivity by KLA. The answer I got was that no individual from Kosovo had ever stepped in his house,” explains Dyla.

Homebirth is common in remote villages (News24 screenshot)

During the inspection the house was surrounded by Albanian police while the family was ordered to stay silent. Dyla continues: “We started testing by spraying a solution which in contact with blood spots would turn phosphorescent. In some places in one of the rooms we identified some phosphorescent spots. I contacted the family and one of the young women told me she had given birth at home to a child three years ago. This was the reason why we found some blood spots. After inspecting all the rooms, absolutely no evidence was found that could prove the authenticity of the allegations. The house does not satisfy the minimal requirements for a medical clinic.”

Homebirth is still common for some Albanian women living in remote areas of the country.

Number of alleged victims has been put into 100's (News24 screenshot)

During a press briefing at The Hague, ICTY spokesperson, Olga Karavan confirmed that a preliminary investigation was conducted in cooperation with Albanian authorities and UN in Kosovo. According to Karavan, despite these efforts, “no reliable evidence had been obtained to substantiate the allegations.”

According to Swiss press the allegations are based on an inquiry conducted by a team of journalists back in 1999. When the journalists could not advance further their investigation, they gave up but at the same time informed ICTY.  ICTY answered by conducting the preliminary investigation described above.

The house Carla Del Ponte says could have been used as an organ harvesting clinic is located in the village of Shulbatër, Gurra municipality, Albania.

Previously on this topic 

• Kosovo human rights group to sue Del Ponte
• ICTY rejects Del Ponte organ trafficking allegations
• Ex-Hague prosecutor alleges organ trafficking in Kosovo
  

Comments (4)

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Owen said:

	HRB is right. There's a lot of loose talk about organ stealing, and a lot of it circulated by people who choose to ignore substantiated atrocities. That makes it all the more important that the truth is established by thorough independent investigation.
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April 29, 2008
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hrb said:

	If nothing happened then they should still investigate it just to prove to the world they have nothing to hide. The fact that Pristina based groups and even the government are refusing to investigate it and their reactions to it as being an insult suggests that there might be something more to this story. I also have my doubts about this story but it must be investigated and PROPERLY.
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April 27, 2008
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bluerose799 said:

I believe a full and open investigation into this matter is necessary to restore the integrity of both, Carla Del Ponte (I hope she is innocent), and Abdulla Katuci. I think this investigation is a must, and is more helpful for Carla Del Ponte than Abdulla Katuci. Of course after the investigation this case must go to Court of Law. If Abdulla Katuci will be found guilty he will be sentenced for life or worse. If Carla Del Ponte will be found guilty, no matter what sentence will be for her, she will be put automatically under “THE CANUN”. That means either way this matter cant be settled without severe punishment for the perpetrators. If this matter won't be settled in the court of the law, for Albanian, Carla Del Ponte might be considered as a Guilty Person.

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April 27, 2008
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Dan Asta said:

	I wonder if this district prosecutor is the one whom Del Ponte quotes as making remarks about the few tears shed over Serb deaths in Albania.
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April 27, 2008
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