The Special Prosecution of Kosovo has filed an indictment for abuse of official position against the acting Minister for Regional Development, Fikrim Damka, and the acting Secretary of this Ministry, Besim Kamberaj.
Prosecutors accuse Damka and Kamberaj of causing damage to Kosovo’s budget amounting to around 1 million euros.
According to a statement on Friday, Damka and Kamberaj are accused of having exceeded their legal competences with the aim of providing financial gain to two non-governmental organizations—Germin and the Swiss Caritas—during the period between August 16, 2021, and March 24, 2022.
Prosecutors charge them with acting in violation of the Law on International Agreements and the Procedures for Public Financing of NGOs, and contrary to the Ministry’s competences, by exceeding the limits of NGO financing from public funds “by funding the aforementioned organizations without organizing a public call.”
“There is well-founded suspicion that the defendants caused damage to the budget of Kosovo in the amount of €1,040,000,” the statement reads.
The prosecution said it has requested the Basic Court in Pristina to find the defendants guilty after the judicial review and to impose a fine and an effective prison sentence.
If found guilty, they face up to five years in prison under Kosovo’s Penal Code.
Fikrim Damka – who is the chairman of the Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo – was appointed Minister for Regional Development in the second Kurti government in 2021.