GJKKO Finds 6 Former Divjaka Municipality Officials Guilty, Here Are the Sentences

The Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) has issued its verdict for six individuals, current and former officials of Divjaka Municipality, who faced charges from the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) for manipulating public procurement competitions.

The list of convicted persons includes: Dorjan Spaho, Sara Xhepa (Doko), Roklejd Malko, Fatos Veliu, Elbareta Nishica, and Vojsava Leçini. All were found responsible for the criminal offense “Violation of the equality of participants in public tenders or auctions,” committed in collaboration.

The investigation that led to this trial originated from a separated fragment of another investigative file. It focused on three tender processes organized by the local authority, with a total value of approximately 1 million euros. According to the prosecution, the findings showed violations in procurement mechanisms, believed to have harmed free competition by favoring specific economic entities.

The hearings were conducted under the abbreviated trial procedure. For each defendant, the court set an initial sentence of 1 year imprisonment, but because the shortened procedure was followed, the final sentence was reduced to 8 months in prison.

For three of the convicted persons, namely Dorjan Spaho, Sara Xhepa, and Roklejd Malko, the decision provided for the suspension of serving the prison sentence. They will fulfill this obligation by performing 120 hours of community service, an activity that must be completed within a six-month period under the supervision of the Probation Service.

Meanwhile, for Fatos Veliu, Elbareta Nishica, and Vojsava Leçini, the court decided on a different treatment: suspension of the prison sentence and placing them on probation for a period of 16 months. Concurrently, the latter were deprived of the right to hold positions in the state administration for 5 years.

Another point of the ruling states that all costs incurred during the legal proceedings must be paid jointly by all six convicted individuals. This court decision is not final and the parties have the opportunity to challenge it before the Special Court of Appeal within 15 days.