Operation "Bridge"/ GJKKO finds guilty and sentences 3 defendants

2026-04-28 16:21:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Criminal Court of Kosovo has found guilty and sentenced three people, who were charged with unlawful influence in the framework of the operation codenamed "Bridge", which was carried out in May last year by the Special Prosecution Office.

The citizens in question are: Edison Çukaj alias Gjoka, Ervis Deti and Bexhed Mema.

Announcement:

The Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, with a panel composed of judges Bib Ndreca, Engjëllushe Tahiri and Elsa Ulliri, with decision no. 35, dated 27.04.2026, decided:

The guilty plea of ??the defendant Edison Çukaj alias Gjoka, for committing the criminal offense of "Exercising unlawful influence over persons exercising public functions", provided for by article 245/1, second paragraph, of the Criminal Code, and his sentencing to 1 (one) year and 6 (six) months of imprisonment.

In application of Article 406/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1/3 of the sentence is reduced, with the defendant finally sentenced to 1 (one) year of imprisonment.

Based on Articles 261/1/c and 389 of the Criminal Procedure Code, because the duration of the detention served is greater than the amount of the sentence imposed, the removal of the security measure "Arrest in prison" imposed by decision No. 34 dated 30.04.2025, of the Special Court of First Instance against Corruption and Organized Crime, is ordered, if not held for any other security measure or unserved criminal sentence.

The guilty plea of ??the defendant Ervis Deti, for committing the criminal offense of "Exercising unlawful influence over persons exercising public functions", in collaboration, provided for by articles 245/1, paragraph four and 25 of the Criminal Code, and his sentence to 2 (two) years of imprisonment. In application of article 406/1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1/3 of the sentence is reduced, with the defendant finally sentenced to 1 (one) year and 4 (four) months of imprisonment.

The sentence begins to be served from the day this decision becomes final and is served in one of the regular security prisons.

The guilty plea of ??the defendant Bexhed Mema, for committing the criminal offense of “Exercising illegal influence over persons exercising public functions”, in collaboration, provided for by articles 245/1, paragraph four and 25 of the Criminal Code, and his sentence to 2 (two) years of imprisonment. 8. In application of article 406/1 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1/3 of the sentence is reduced, with the defendant finally sentenced to 1 (one) year and 4 (four) months of imprisonment.

Based on Article 59 of the Criminal Code, the suspension of the execution of the decision to imprison the defendant Bexhed Mema is ordered, requiring him to maintain contact with the local Probation Service office where the defendant resides. The defendant is placed on probation for a period of 2 (two) years and 8 months, provided that during the probation period he does not commit another criminal offense.

Pursuant to Article 61 of the Criminal Code, the defendant is obliged, during the probation period: a). To respond to calls and requests from the Local Probation Service Office; b). To obtain consent from the Local Probation Service Office for a change of residence.

Based on Article 261/1/b and 389 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the lifting of the security measure "Obligation to report to the judicial police" imposed by decision No. 34 dated 30.04.2025, of the Special Court of First Instance against Corruption and Organized Crime is ordered.

Regarding the material evidence based on Article 190 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the court disposes as follows: 1 (one) telephone device of the brand “Samsung Galaxy A16”, with IMEI number 1: **** and IMEI 2: **** which has the SIM card of the Italian company with serial number ****, of citizen Edison Cukaj alias Gjoka to be returned to the latter; 1 (one) telephone device of the brand “Iphone 12 ProMax”, with IMEI number 1: **** and IMEI 2: **** which has the SIM card of the Vodafone company with serial number ****, of citizen Bexhed Mema to be returned to the latter; 1 (one) mobile device of the brand Samsung dark blue model galaxy A21S in a switched on state without an access code with IMEI number 1: **** and IMEI 2: ****, SIM card ****, of citizen Armand Tragaj to be left at the disposal of the separate file; 1 (one) Samsung galaxy A3 mobile phone, with IMEI number 1: **** of citizen Ervis Deti, to be returned to the latter. 13. Based on Article 224 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the CD with the relevant data remains part of the court file. 14. The investigative and judicial expenses (according to the attached minutes) are jointly and severally charged to the defendants. 15. An appeal against the decision is allowed by the parties to the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, within 15 days from the day after the communication of the reasoned decision. /CNA