Beqaj Hearing on “Sterilisation”/SPAK Opposes Former Minister’s Requests: Unfounded in Law

The Special Prosecution Office has requested the dismissal of 23 motions filed by Ilir Beqaj, through which the former minister challenges the charges against him and the procedural actions of the investigative body.

According to SPAK, Beqaj’s motions are unfounded in law and should not be accepted by the court.

Prosecutor Edvin Kondili stated that most of the defendant’s claims had already been addressed during the investigation phase, at the preliminary hearing through the decision allowing the case to proceed to trial, and during the substantive examination of the case file.

SPAK believes there are no legal grounds to accept the motions filed by the former minister.

The “Sterilisation” Case File

Former minister Ilir Beqaj has been charged in the sterilisation concession case, while on March 18 he was also notified of the charge of abuse of office committed in cooperation. Beqaj faces charges of “abuse of office,” committed in cooperation. The SPAK investigation concerns the concession for “integrated services for the provision of personalised sets of surgical instruments, the supply of single-use sterile medical materials in operating theatres, as well as the treatment of biological waste and the disinfection of operating theatres,” during the period when Beqaj headed the Ministry of Agriculture.

Eight others have also been charged in connection with the sterilisation case, including former deputy minister Klodian Rrjepaj and concession beneficiary Ilir Rrapaj, both of whom have been in custody since August last year. Six former officials of the Ministry of Health, who were members of the sterilisation concession commission, will also stand trial.