The Weakest Link of Kosovo's Democracy - KFOS

They should be tried!
Hasan PrETEnI
It was Friday, in 2007, when Anti-Corruption Agency filed the first criminal charges
against some doctors who were suspected being involved in corruptive affairs.
As per the idea of “ideal world”, after three days, we started to check e-mails every
morning waiting for an answer regarding the steps to be taken by Prosecution Office in
relation to the case. We never received official information about further procedures.
But, in fact after a year an indictment was raised against two doctors under suspicion
of abuse of power and appropriation.
Despite this, we are in 2011 now and their trial has not started yet.
And this is one of many other cases!
In countries where there is no functioning of the law, corruption is quite present, or
said differently corruption substitutes the law, where money helps you do anything.
Every country bans corruptive actions by law, and this is valid in case of Kosovo too.
But, is corruption being fought in the country, this is a big question mark!
As a person heading an institution that has the legal obligation to fight and prevent
corruption through investigations in advance, I would like to see tangible results in the
fight against corruption. I would not like to see corruption as part of organized crime,
by deforming laws; I would not like to see postponement of cases related to suspicions
about corruption if there is no need to do it.
It is very important to avoid any possibility that enables suspects of corruption gain
time and the possibility of mediation or compromise.
I have said this many times and I will repeat again that there is corruption in Kosovo
and the worst thing is that it does not pertain to low level, traffic police, municipal administration
or similar, but it takes place at the part of tenders which involves millions.
Currently, Kosovo is suffering from weak legal system in the area of procurement. We
should not agree to seeing Kosovo continue to live with terrible favouring competition,
where benefactors receive work without the tender being announced.
Kosovo immediately needs to create strong policies and take concrete steps in improving
legislation in area of procurement. This should take place because according
to Agency analysis it resulted that corruption genes in Kosovo absolutely derive from
procurement and tender-mania.
Absence of trials and punishments of cases suspected to be corruptive actions allow
for corruption and organized crime to have an influence on every walk of life. It is
very painful that Kosovo has not carried out an analysis regarding the extent of damage
corruption is causing to economic development, social situation, fair competition,
moral or trust of citizens in state institutions.
15
The Weakest Link of Kosovo’s Democracy
forum 2015