Thaçi et al. trial: new witness in court (109th so far)

Sokol Bashota is the new SPO witness, whose testimony commenced this afternoon and is anticipated to extend over several days.

Pursuant to Rule 151(2), the Panel announced in court that they decided to compel this witness to testify due to, inter alia, the importance and uniqueness of his testimony, as well as the limited nature of possible self-incrimination. According to the same Rule, paragraph 3, the Panel assured the witness that his evidence would be given in camera, unless requested otherwise by the witness, and would not be used against him in any subsequent prosecution before the KSC, except under Article 15 (2) of the Law and Rule 65 of the Rules.

Following the consultations with his duty counsel present in court, the witness announced that he would like this testimony to be in open session.