Ardit Gjebrea leaves SPAK after two hours (VIDEO)

Producer and singer-songwriter Ardit Gjebrea spoke to the media today after spending more than two and a half hours at the Special Prosecution Office, clarifying that he had been questioned as a witness, not as a person under investigation.

Gjebrea said he could not provide further details about the case because the investigation was confidential, stressing that he had shown respect for both the institution and the journalists waiting outside.

“I was there as a witness in a case subject to investigative confidentiality. I cannot say any more because I must respect the institution, but I am also showing respect for you. I could have left, but I cannot do that. I am someone with knowledge of the matter,” he said.

Asked about his relationship with the people connected to the case, Gjebrea described the meeting as friendly, also mentioning reciprocal invitations to his show and other events.

“They were friendly. I also invited him onto my show. Since ‘E diela shqiptare’ has a human-interest segment, why not? They invited me, and I invited them. I acted a little like an amateur,” Gjebrea said with a laugh.

Gjebrea was summoned to SPAK as part of the investigation into the “Veliaj” case, where he provided explanations about funding his company, “Jon Music,” received from the Municipality of Tirana to organize the “Kënga Magjike” festival.

Sources say the questions put to the producer focused on payments received from the institution headed at the time by Erion Veliaj.

According to figures from the “Open Spending Data” platform, which records payments made through the Treasury, “Jon Music” received six payments from the Municipality of Tirana while Erion Veliaj was at its helm.

Gjebrea was questioned about this funding and the circumstances under which it was received as part of SPAK’s ongoing investigation into the case involving the former mayor of Tirana.