30 days of pre-trial detention sought for two suspected loan sharks in Prizren

The Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren – the Serious Crimes Department has asked the Basic Court in Prizren to order 30 days of pre-trial detention for two people suspected of loan sharking, as Klan Kosova reports, in reporting also confirmed by Betimi për Drejtësi and PortaliFiks. The defendant with the initials V.H. is suspected of having, from 2025 until 29 September 2026 in Prizren, exploited the victim’s difficult financial and personal situation to lend him various sums of money at high monthly interest rates, gaining amounts clearly disproportionate to the money lent, according to the Prosecution’s announcement cited by Betimi për Drejtësi. As the Prosecution reports, the victim had borrowed money at a monthly interest rate of 20 percent. “In interest and late-payment interest alone, without counting the principal debt, the victim paid considerable sums, a total of 56,200 euros,” the official announcement says. According to the investigation, on 29 September, after a meeting with the victim at a venue in the village of Krushë e Madhe, the two suspects got into a vehicle, where the victim is alleged to have handed V.H. 15,000 euros as interest. “At that moment police officers intervened and the two defendants were arrested in flagrante,” the Prosecution announced. V.H. is also suspected of continuously putting pressure on and threatening the victim, demanding payment of considerable sums as interest and debt – actions which, according to the Prosecution, caused the victim “fear, anxiety, insecurity and concern for his life”. During a search of his home, police also found and seized a scoped rifle, for which the suspect held no valid permit. D.E. is suspected of assisting in the criminal offence of loan sharking by accepting interest payments in his name through a microfinance institution and then handing them over to V.H. V.H. is being investigated for the offences of “Loan sharking”, “Coercion” and “Unauthorised ownership, control or possession of weapons”, while D.E. is suspected of “Loan sharking in assistance”. It is now up to the Basic Court in Prizren to decide on the Prosecution’s request.