Alleged Crime Boss Snubs Kosovo Police Demands

A prominent legislator from the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, accused of running a major crime syndicate, has disregarded calls to immediately hand himself over.

Azem Syla, a former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the KLA, has assured police that he will cooperate with the authorities and face his "unfounded" charges, but did not give a specific time frame for his return to Kosovo.

Police in Kosovo arrested six people on Wednesday in an investigation into an alleged land scam that cost the state 30 million euros, depriving several families of their property as well.

More than 300 Kosovo police, police from the EU law mission EULEX and additional security forces raided 42 locations and arrested six of seven suspects wanted on Wednesday.

But when the police raided Syla's home, he was not there. He did, however, answer a phone call from the police - who told him to appear for questioning in Pristina - saying he was in Durres, a city on the Albanian seaside.

In a letter to the media, Syla claimed he was in Kosovo until Tuesday and was not aware that law enforcement agencies sought him.

"I did not receive any invitation from the authorities? and travelled abroad on a personal agenda," Syla said, confirming that he spoke to the police over the phone and had assured them that he will return to face the charges.

Syla's lawyer, Tome Gashi, told Klan Kosova television that he had spoken to his client over the telephone and that Syla had confirmed he was not in Kosovo but would return to face the charges when "the weather gets better".

Syla said in the letter that the charges against him were unfounded, but vowed to cooperate with justice institutions.

"I am absolutely clean, and this will be proven...