Kosovar citizen Xhabale charged with stalking Ukrainian woman – extensive criminal record
Karanfil Xhabale, a 27-year-old Kosovan with convictions for violence and exploitation of prostitution, is defending himself in court over stalking charges. Žurnal24 reports on the new proceedings at Ljubljana district court.
Xhabale in court: stalking of Ukrainian woman as latest charge
Karanfil Xhabale, a 27-year-old Kosovan citizen born in Prilep, appeared before Ljubljana district court yesterday. As reported by Žurnal24, prosecutor Špela Pogačar Škulj accuses him of stalking, for which a fine or imprisonment of up to two years is threatened.
Despite his youth, Xhabale has an extensive criminal record. He recently served a prison sentence for violence and exploitation of prostitution; he defended himself in Croatia over an attempted murder charge from 2017, and proceedings against him are ongoing in Ljubljana district court.
Businessman with property and prison past
According to his own statements, he runs a cooperative finance company in Ireland with 49 employees that also controls a Slovenian company. He reportedly owns an apartment in the prestigious Situla complex on Vilharjeva Street and a house in Montpellier, France. He left court in a newer BMW not registered to him. He revealed to judge Alenka Loncnar that he lives in a common-law partnership and is expecting a child.
Months of surveillance and threats
The prosecution accuses him of stalking a Ukrainian woman, identified only by initials O. K., between July and 10 December 2022. He allegedly called her by telephone, sent her text messages and followed her during daily activities – whilst shopping with her mother and in a pizzeria, where he allegedly touched her hair and spoke to her despite her requests that he stop.
On the tenth of December, he allegedly drove to her house, and she locked herself in from fear. During their relationship, he was allegedly violent towards her on multiple occasions, pulled her hair and threw her out of a car whilst driving from Ljubljana. He allegedly threatened her that she would have to pay for every minute of waiting time and that things would go worse for her if she did not see him.
The victim was not present at the hearing. Judge Loncnarjeva suspended the proceedings after ten minutes, as Xhabale does not yet have a lawyer. The next hearing is scheduled for October; according to Žurnal24 it is not ruled out that he will negotiate a guilty plea.
Previous conviction: strangled to unconsciousness, threatened with prostitution
Xhabale has already been definitively convicted of violence and exploitation of prostitution. The victim was also Ukrainian. According to Primorske novice, he allegedly insulted her from October 2022 to May 2023, strangled her until she lost consciousness, beat her and poured wine on her naked body.
He allegedly fabricated a debt of 14,000 euros and demanded that she pay it off through prostitution – she was allegedly supposed to take five clients a day, who paid between 90 and 150 euros, with the proceeds going to him.
Xhabale denied the charges by claiming that his girlfriend likes rough sexual play, which was confirmed by a cousin who described shared sexual practices in Kosovo – including beating, spitting and burning of the victim's personal items.
Sentence: three years, reduced on appeal
The victim finally reported Xhabale to Koper police, after which she sent a letter to the court in which she withdrew her complaint. Koper judge Nataša Tomazini Tonejc disregarded the letter and sentenced him to three years in prison. Xhabale appealed; the Koper higher court reduced his sentence to two years and eight months in prison.
Source: Žurnal24