Çela: Investigations into money laundering and corruption have increased, infrastructure remains a problem; we have been promised a building by 2030

During the presentation of the institution’s activity before the Commission for Citizens’ Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight, Prosecutor General Olsian Çela said the reported data show an expansion of investigations into money laundering and corruption.

According to Çela, since 2020 steps have been taken to strengthen cooperation between institutions by setting up special structures and signing memorandums with Customs, the Tax Administration, the State Police and the Financial Supervisory Authority.

He stressed that the justice system has avoided collapse and that the execution of letters rogatory remains an important indicator of the work of the prosecution offices.

“The figures we have presented show an increase in investigations into money laundering and corruption. Since 2020, we have issued an instruction on setting up special structures, and we also have memorandums with Customs, the Tax Administration, the State Police and the FSA. The improved figures are the result of these initiatives,” Çela said.

According to him, the system was given the opportunity to avoid collapse, while the execution of letters rogatory remains an important indicator. He added that prosecution offices are operating at 60% capacity and are able to review up to 40% of letters rogatory. Çela also mentioned 22,000 criminal proceedings, underlining that increasing the number of magistrates would boost capacity.

He said that the number of cases not initiated remains high, at around 17,000, and that more human resources are needed, as well as a clear improvement in infrastructure conditions.

“The number of cases not initiated is high, around 17,000 cases. Human resources have been increased to help prosecutors. The number of prosecutors should be higher. The second issue is infrastructure, because we have nowhere to place the prosecutors. We drew up a project, but it was not implemented. We have been promised a building by 2030,” he said.

When addressing the independence of prosecutors, Çela described it as an essential issue and at the same time raised concern over the lack of an effective control mechanism.

“According to our assessment, an efficient mechanism is lacking. The two mechanisms are the evaluation of prosecutors, which is carried out every five years, and inspection. The mechanism that would increase efficiency is inspection, not as it used to be, but there should be an inspection power for issues related to Parliament,” Olsian Çela said.