According to the indictment, Berisha was accused that, while serving as a judge in the department for serious crimes in the basic court of Peja, he directly requested and accepted a bribe from the person with the initials F. Z. to act contrary to his official duty. The judge asked F. Z. for a bribe of around €2,000 in exchange for issuing a lower sentence to his F. Z.’s brother, who had a case to be tried in the court of Peja.

During the police raid on his house, the police found a weapon that Berisha had without the relevant permit. The judge, Sali Berisha, and his lawyer Besnik Berisha had described the accusations as fabricated throughout the judicial process, with an aim to denigrate the image and professional activity of the judge in question, while Berisha claimed that he was a victim of a well-organised trap.

On 28 April 2023, the basic court of Prishtina found Judge Berisha guilty, sentencing him to two and a half years in prison and issuing a €5,000 fine. The court also banned Berisha from exercising a public administration function for three years.

Both the Special prosecutor's office and the defence attorney were dissatisfied with the first instance verdict. The prosecution filed an appeal, asking for higher sentence, while Berisha’s defence attorney demanded that the entire judgement be declared invalid and that Judge Berisha be acquitted.

A year later, in February 2024, the court of appeal decided to change the decision of the first instance and reduce the sentence of imprisonment and fine previously issued to Judge Berisha by the basic court of Prishtina. The court of appeal reduced the prison sentence to two years and a fine of €3,500. The fine includes €3,000 for taking a bribe, and €500 for possessing weapon without a permit.

The initial arrest of Berisha was made following the report F. Z. made to the police and the special prosecutor’s office about bribe demands. While this case illustrates that even the judiciary, an institution expected to behave with the highest standards of integrity and impartiality, is vulnerable to corruption in Kosovo; it also shows that the proactive attitude of citizens can help in curbing corruption in the judiciary.