Santiago Malko Murder: Special Appeals Court Upholds 28-Year Prison Sentence for Ilir Selmani

The Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organised Crime today decided to uphold the 28-year prison sentence imposed on Ilir Selmani, who was found guilty of the murder of former police officer Santiago Malko. The incident occurred in August 2019 in Tirana.

According to the announcement by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime, the judicial panel, composed of judges appointed by the High Judicial Council, Dritan Hasani (presiding), Miranda Andoni (member) and Arbër Çela (member), today, on 17 July 2026, delivered its ruling in criminal case No. 23, registered on 16 February 2026. The case was registered after the Supreme Court overturned ruling No. 48, dated 16 November 2023, of the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organised Crime and returned it for retrial before a different panel, following an appeal filed by defendant Ilir Selmani against ruling No. 28, dated 3 May 2023, of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organised Crime.

The Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organised Crime decided to uphold ruling No. 28, dated 3 May 2023, of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organised Crime concerning defendant Ilir Selmani.

An appeal to the Supreme Court may be filed against this ruling within 45 days, starting from the day after notification of the decision. The ruling was delivered in Tirana today, on 17 July 2026.

The case was retried by the Special Appeals Court following the Supreme Court’s previous decision. Under the ruling, Ilir Selmani will return to prison to serve his 28-year sentence in a high-security prison.

It should be recalled that on 19 June, the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organised Crime decided to change Ilir Selmani’s security measure.

The GJKKO Appeals Court ordered house arrest, requiring him to remain at his residence in Tirana under the supervision of judicial police.

On 16 November 2023, Selmani was sentenced by the Special Appeals Court to 28 years in prison for the murder of the former police officer, an incident that took place on 27 August 2019 on Xhanfize Keko Street in Tirana.

According to the court’s ruling at the time, Selmani, who was part of the group known as the “Duka Clan”, had monitored Malko together with another person before the murder.