Pjetër Shala was allegedly a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) stationed in Kukёs, Albania. The alleged crimes with which Shala is charged took place between approximately 17 May 1999 and 5 June 1999 against persons detained at the Kukёs Metal Factory in Albania, allegedly used by the KLA. On 21 September 2022, the Pre-Trial Judge transmitted the case file to Trial Panel I. The trial commenced on 21 February 2023 and ended on 17 April 2024. The trial judgment was pronounced on 16 July 2024. The Trial Panel found P. Shala guilty of the war crimes of arbitrary detention, torture and murder and sentenced him to a prison sentence of 18 years, with credit for time served. On 2 September 2024, P. Shala filed his notice of appeal against the trial judgment. The reparation order in respect of victims was pronounced on 29 November 2024. The Panel ordered P. Shala to pay a sum of €208,000 as compensation for the physical, mental and material harm inflicted on the victims of the crimes for which he was convicted. There are eight participating victims in this case.
