GJKKO Rejects Xoxa’s Request, Next Hearing for Veliaj to Be Held Today

The next trial hearing at GJKKO in the case against Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj is expected to take place today, with the request filed by his wife, Ajola Xoxa, set to be the main focus.

Xoxa has requested a two-month suspension of the trial, submitting a medical report on her cesarean delivery and arguing that she is unable to conduct her defense effectively following the procedure.

SPAK is expected to oppose the request, arguing that the law provides only for the adjournment of a hearing and that she has never previously appeared in court.

Meanwhile, the court is also expected to rule on the mayor’s earlier requests for the hearings to be broadcast live and for him to be allowed out of the glass enclosure. These issues have been cited as grounds for his refusal to appear in person, with Veliaj preferring to be represented by his lawyer.

What was Veliaj accused of?

SPAK has concluded its investigation and sent the case against Mayor Erion Veliaj to the Special Court of First Instance for trial. The case file compiled by SPAK contains 13 charges against Veliaj and 12 charges against his wife, Ajola Xoxa. At the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, it was found that Veliaj and Xoxa, acting in cooperation with each other, received improper benefits in the form of sums of money and real estate in nine separate instances from commercial entities and nonprofit organizations, which in turn received construction permits and benefited from public funds granted by Tirana Municipality.

The criminal investigation gathered concrete evidence showing that Veliaj, in his capacity as Mayor of Tirana, approved the allocation of these funds with his signature in every instance. The funds subsequently ended up with NGOs controlled by his wife and individuals close to her. Furthermore, because of Veliaj’s official position, the defendants also improperly benefited from real estate of considerable value provided by commercial entities that had received public funds and construction permits from Tirana Municipality.

In all these instances, the defendants, acting in cooperation with one another, committed the elements of the criminal offense stipulated under Article 260 of the Criminal Code. By providing improper benefits because of the official position held by defendant Erion Veliaj, the aforementioned limited liability companies and nonprofit organizations committed the elements stipulated under Article 245 of the Criminal Code.