Prison sentences for Kosovo-Metohija Serbs reverted to fines

PRISTINA - A Pristina basic court on Tuesday sentenced two Kosovo-Metohija Serbs to six months in prison for "involvement in a crowd committing criminal offences or hooliganism."

The men, Dusan Obrenovic and Rados Petrovic, were arrested in May last year following protests in Zvecan.

As they have pleaded guilty, their sentences were reverted to 6,000 euro fines.

Petrovic spent almost 30 days in custody and Obrenovic served the full sentence in custody.

Petrovic's attorney said charges of three more serious criminal offences had been dropped during the investigative procedure and that only "hooliganism and attacks on Kfor troops" had remained.

"We agreed to make a plea bargain deal for that offence," he said, adding that the resulting six-month prison sentences had then been reverted to fines.

"The indictment arrived at the court with the plea bargain deal, which was upheld by the court. As far as Rados Petrovic is concerned, the six months were reverted to a fine, while Dusan Obrenovic has already served his sentence," the attorney said.

Initially, the two had also been suspected of allegedly attacking "the constitutional order," "international personnel under international protection" and "officials."