Vicentijevic Ibar-Lepenac Trial Adjourned Indefinitely

The hearing in the case against three men accused of destroying the Ibar-Lepenac canal was adjourned on October 19 at the Basic Court in Pristina, with no new date set, because the prosecutor did not appear. Presiding Judge Veselj Ismailji retires on November 10, so the composition of the panel will change, and the defense lawyer for one of the accused argues that the trial must therefore start from the beginning.

The defendants are Dragisa Vicentijevic and Jovan Vicentijevic, both in detention, and Igor Dimovic, who is defending himself from freedom.

Why was the hearing halted?

Prosecutor Bekim Kodraljiu did not show up. His deputy, Armend Zenelaj, declined to question the defense witness, said he was not the prosecutor assigned to the case and proposed that the hearing be adjourned. The sources differ on the defense’s position: RTS reports that the judge halted the trial despite the defense’s disagreement, while Radio KiM says the defense lawyer backed the prosecutor’s proposal.

The judge said the next date is uncertain because he ends his professional career on November 10. A second defense witness, Dejan Vicentijevic, was not heard.

What did the witness say about the day of the attack?

Before the break, the court heard defense witness Tijana Vicentijevic, a niece of Dragisa and Jovan. According to her testimony, Jovan came to Zubin Potok on the day the canal was attacked and stayed in her parents’ apartment, in the building where he also has a flat. He was with her around 6:15 p.m., they drank tea close to 7 p.m., and he then left for work, since his shift at the water utility at Gazivode began at 8 p.m.

Jovan Vicentijevic’s defense lawyer, Nebojsa Vlajic, said after the hearing what the testimony means for the defense:

“Today we heard from a witness that the defendant was at a completely different place, not where the crime was committed”

What does the defense say about the prosecution and the new panel?

Vlajic criticized the prosecution for not sending the responsible prosecutor to the hearing. He said the prosecutor sent a deputy “who knows nothing about the case,” and added this about what the delay means for the accused:

“We have reached the stage where our witnesses are being heard, the public prosecutor did not come, but sent a deputy who knows nothing about the case, and he did not come because he is not used to hearing anything other than what he claims himself. So we will continue when the conditions are met, but for all that time the defendants are in detention”

For the new panel, the defense wants the proceedings restarted from zero. Vlajic said:

“The proceedings must start from the beginning so that he can familiarize himself with what has been done so far, but judges usually cut corners and state that the files have been read, when in fact they have not”

In its report, RTS says a change of panel is expected to bring up the possibility of formally returning the case to the start. No source says this has already been decided.

What are the three accused charged with?

According to the indictment by the Special Prosecution, on November 29, 2024, about 20 kilograms of TNT were planted and detonated in the village of Varage near Zubin Potok, with the involvement of other, still unidentified persons. The prosecution claims the explosion severely damaged the canal’s structure, cut off drinking water supply in several municipalities and endangered electricity production. The indictment puts the damage to the Ibar-Lepenac company at 376,774.70 euros.

The indictment covers endangering the constitutional order by destroying or damaging public installations and equipment, an act of terrorism, espionage and unauthorized possession of weapons. Jovan Vicentijevic is additionally charged with espionage, and Igor Dimovic with unauthorized possession of weapons. The accused are presumed innocent until a final verdict, and the court decides on guilt.

Until a new panel and a new date are set, Dragisa and Jovan Vicentijevic remain in detention.