The Special Prosecution Office has extended the investigation into former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by another three months. She is suspected of corruption, money laundering and breaching equality in tenders in several cases.
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A source close to SPAK confirmed to News24 that Erald Elezi, the former director of KESH, and Gentian Gjyli, the former general director of the Albanian Road Authority, both trusted associates of Belinda Balluku, were summoned on Wednesday and are expected to be notified of the decision to extend the investigation deadline.
Under the law, the deadline has been extended by another three months after the special prosecutors argued in their decision that they need time to carry out further investigative actions related to the case, which is considered complex because a large number of tenders are being reviewed.
Belinda Balluku has been indicted by SPAK over the tender for the construction of the Llogara Tunnel and is under investigation over all lots of Tirana’s Great Ring Road.
More recently, she has also been charged with corruption and money laundering, while a luxury villa in Dhërmi has been seized. SPAK suspects it is her concealed property, obtained as a bribe while she headed Albcontrol.
Two security measures remain in force against the former infrastructure minister: a ban on leaving the country and suspension from carrying out her official duties.
SPAK’s request for authorization to arrest Balluku was rejected by the ruling majority in a vote. Following the filing of the new charges against her, the Special Prosecution Office has yet to decide whether it will again ask Parliament for authorization to arrest the former second-highest-ranking official in the Albanian government.
