SPAK Concludes Investigation into Separate “Metamorfoza” Case, Sends 9 Defendants to Trial

The separated portion of the “Metamorfoza” case file has now been forwarded to the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime. A draw is expected to be held to select the judge who will decide whether to send the case to trial, as requested by SPAK.

Prosecutors Arben Kraja and Bledar Maksuti have concluded their investigations into Ervis Martinaj, one of the people most wanted by the Albanian justice authorities, as well as Denis Bajri, Klaodor Hakaj, Prekë Kodra, Aleks Ndreka, Bardhyl Mavra, Eljon Hato and Arsad Bashli.

Investigative proceedings have also been completed for Nuredin Dumani, who is facing a separate trial as part of the “Golden Bullet” mega-operation. Dumani, who has been granted cooperating witness status, is being held in pretrial detention.

The nine defendants were investigated in absentia, as the security measures imposed on them have not been enforced by the State Police for nearly three years. Following the conclusion of the investigations, the Special Prosecution Office requested that they be sent to trial.

SPAK has charged the entire group with “Premeditated murder,” committed through the specific form of cooperation known as a structured criminal group; “Structured criminal group”; “Commission of criminal offenses by a structured criminal group and criminal organization”; “Provision of the conditions and means to commit murder”; and “Unauthorized possession and manufacture of firearms, explosive weapons and ammunition.”

Of the nine people whom prosecutors have requested be sent to trial, only two are under arrest. They are Aleks Ndreka, known by the nickname “Leksi i Druve,” and Denis Bajri, who is also known by the surname Brajovic.