UNMIK/PR/830
Based in part on information arising from the ongoing investigation into the activities of Rrustem “Remi” Mustafa and others, investigators from UNMIK Police have launched an investigation into alleged corruption within the Pristina Department for Cadastre, Geodesy and Property, the government office responsible for maintaining property ownership records in the Pristina region.
As part of that investigation, UNMIK Police today arrested two senior public officials from the Cadastre Office on suspicion of corruption.
The names of the suspects, both Kosovo Albanian men, are being withheld until charges against them have been reviewed and confirmed by an investigating judge.
Investigators suspect that employees of the agency were illegally transferring publicly or socially owned property to private individuals.
Police are also investigating allegations that members of the Cadastre Office were requesting bribes in order to register transferred property.
This information has been presented to an international judge, who has authorized searches of the Cadastre agency and other locations.
The cadastral offices have been closed while the searches are ongoing.
During the course of the investigation, police determined that of approximately 15,000 transactions processed by the Cadastre Office over the previous two and a half years, about 80 percent may be of questionable validity.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is encouraged to contact the police.
