The Prosecutorial Council of Kosovo, PCK, has cancelled the recruitment of professional associates in the prosecution offices of Gjakova/Djakovica, Peja/Pec and Prizren after BIRN reported that the chief prosecutor of Gjakova/Djakovica, Ramiz Buzhala, had leaked the questions.

“The PCK expresses deep concern regarding suspicions raised in the media about the distribution of test questions for professional associates by the Chief Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution in Gjakove, Ramiz Buzhala,” the PCK said.

“The acting General Director of the Secretariat of the Prosecutorial Council of Kosovo publicly announces that the competition for the recruitment of professional associates for the Basic Prosecutors’ offices in Gjakova, Peja and Prizren will be cancelled in its entirety, returning it to zero point,” the announcement added.

The PCK pledged that legal procedures will be taken against Ramiz Buzhala and members of the commission of this process.

On Wednesday, Buzhala sent the test questions to BIRN journalist Adelina Ahmeti, apparently by mistake.

“Questions: continuation of detention measure for minors; who directs of the performance unit; complementary punishment; alternative procedures; difference between parole and conditional sentence … purpose of diversity measures; bail,” the message said.

Addressing an unknown individual, who was presumably supposed to receive the questions, Buzhala added: “Written test. Use the time up to 13:00.”

BIRN found out the questions were for the written test held that day, on Wednesday, at the Ministry of Justice.

After sending the question topics to BIRN, Buzhala called the BIRN journalist, insisting: “It was a mistake.”

When BIRN told Buzhala that he had sent the questions, and asked who was supposed to receive them, he asked for “understanding” , saying: “I didn’t address them to anyone in particular” and then hung up.

Candidates for the prosecution posts in Gjakova/Djakovica, Peja/Pec and Prizren who took the test on Wednesday confirmed to BIRN that the actual questions were similar to those Buzhala sent to the BIRN journalist.

After BIRN contacted the acting Chief State Prosecutor Besim Kelmendi on the matter, the recruitment process was cancelled.

Buzhala has not since responded to BIRN after he hang up the phone the first time.