Foreign Tourist Killed in Ksamil, Testimony of 29-Year-Old Sokrat Vata Revealed

The testimony of 29-year-old Sokrat Vata, suspected of killing Portuguese tourist Luis Miguel Varela Mendes in an incident that took place yesterday (August 18) at the “Principotes” hotel in Ksamil, has been revealed.

In his testimony before the authorities, Vata claimed that the knife was initially in the Portuguese tourist’s hands and that he took it from him during the conflict.

“The Portuguese man had the knife; I took it from his hand,” Vata is reported to have told investigators.

According to his testimony, before the situation escalated, he asked the people involved in the conflict to remain calm, as other people were also present at the venue.

“I asked them to remain calm; there were other people there as well,” he stated.

However, according to Vata’s version, the situation did not calm down and the conflict continued to escalate.

“It was impossible to keep things calm, and the conflict began,” he is reported to have said.

Those arrested

Eleven people have been arrested, while two others have been declared wanted. In addition to the alleged perpetrator, Sokrat Lipan alias Sokrat Vata, those arrested are the two Turks who helped him, Nuh Mahmutoglu, 38, and Ezgi Perlak, 31; Serxhi Selimi, 24; Ervis Bunci, 24; Ildi Cekani, 21; and Murat Zhabina, 27, who were waiters at the “Principote” venue; as well as Miosid Matushaj, 24; Luciano Seferi, 44; Romeo Shehu, 35; and Kristi Koshi, 29, who were part of the security/bodyguard team at the venue in question. Declared wanted were David Heurtevent, 29, and the venue’s owner, Bekim Bulica, 36.

The alleged perpetrator was arrested by police in Levan, Fier, in the trunk of a vehicle driven by Turkish national Ezgi Perlak, 31, while Turkish national Nuh Mahmutoglu, 38, was a passenger.

According to police, the two knew Sokrat Vata and had hidden him in the car in order to transport him to Tirana. For this reason, they were arrested for “Assisting the perpetrator of the crime.”

THE INCIDENT

According to the investigation, the incident began at around 05:15 on August 18 at the “Principote” venue in Ksamil and later continued on “Paradise” beach. Sokrat Lipan alias Sokrat Vata, 29, is suspected of stabbing the 20-year-old Portuguese man several times during the conflict, while David Heurtevent, 29, who has been declared wanted, is suspected of punching him. Both are accused of intentional homicide in cooperation.

Before the stabbing, four “Principote” waiters—Serxhi Selimi, Ervis Bunci, Ildi Cekani and Murat Zhabina—also became involved in the conflict. According to police, they punched the 20-year-old and then left.

Miosid Matushaj, a police officer; Luciano Seferi, 44, an employee of the Fier Prison; Romeo Shehu, an employee of the Gjirokastër Municipal Police; and Kristi Koshi were also at the venue and were serving as bodyguards. According to the investigation, they did not intervene to prevent the conflict and did not notify the police after the incident. For this reason, they are accused of failing to report the crime, while Miosid Matushaj is also accused of failing to take measures to stop the illegal situation.

The owner of the Principote venue, Bekim Bulica, was also on the premises when the incident occurred and, according to police, left without reporting it. He has been declared wanted for failing to report the crime.