Former ASHK director and beneficiary arrested over forged documents for six properties in Fier

At the request of the Prosecutor’s Office at the Fier Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, E.S., the former director of the State Cadastre Agency (ASHK) in Fier, and E.H., the suspected beneficiary of six properties acquired using forged documents, have been arrested. Both individuals under investigation have been remanded in custody.

The court ordered E.R., a former cartographer at the Fier ASHK office, to report regularly to a judicial police officer.

According to the investigation, the actions of E.S. and E.R. relate to the administrative and cadastral review of the documentation used to register the properties.

The case is being investigated as part of criminal proceeding no. 1715, dated 05.11.2025, for the criminal offenses of “Forgery of documents,” “Fraud,” “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity,” and “Abuse of office,” provided for respectively under Articles 186, 143, 287 and 248 of the Criminal Code.

The Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation began following suspicions that real estate in the Levan area had been unlawfully registered and acquired. The inquiries also cover the transfer of these properties and the movement of the funds generated from them.

The suspected criminal conduct originated with a 2008 decision by the Property Restitution and Compensation Agency, which recognized the right to compensation for 100 hectares of agricultural land in the Levan and Dërmënas areas.

One of the beneficiary heirs, E.H., later received financial compensation of 53.800.000 lek, based on Decision no. 1944, dated 26.11.2018, issued by the Property Management Agency.

Despite having received financial compensation, E.H. is suspected of having pursued procedures in 2023 to register six properties in Cadastral Zone no. 2436. The properties had a total area of approximately 71.7 hectares, and Decision no. 246, dated 21.02.2008, was used as the basis for their registration.

After the registration process was completed, some of the properties are suspected of having been transferred through sales, generating substantial proceeds. Investigators are reviewing these transactions, tracing the funds and determining their destination.

As part of the investigation, 715.976 euros deposited in E.H.’s bank account have been seized. The authorities have also seized documents, electronic devices and other materials that will undergo further examination.

The investigation remains ongoing to fully clarify and document the circumstances, identify any other individuals who may have been involved and determine individual criminal responsibility.