SPAK has issued an official statement regarding the arrest of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj. The Special Prosecution Office says it has requested the imposition of a “prison arrest” measure for Veliaj, who is suspected of committing the criminal offense of “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration (9 times) and “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”.
Meanwhile, SPAK has requested the imposition of a “house arrest” measure for the wife of the Mayor of Tirana, Ajola Xoxa. She is suspected of having committed the criminal offenses of “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration (9 times), “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”, “Refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets, private interests of elected persons and public servants or of any other person who has a legal obligation to declare”.
The prosecution emphasizes that suspicion has been created that Veliaj and his wife have committed corrupt acts, as well as laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense, on at least 10 occasions.
VELIAJ AND XOXA’S CORRUPTION SCHEME ACCORDING TO SPAK:
According to SPAK, Veliaj and his wife, Xoxa, have put into operation a mechanism that has aimed and made possible in practice the receipt of irregular benefits, which originate from public funds administered by the Municipality of Tirana through its head, with the aim of personally enriching the mayor and his family through camouflaged and illegal actions.
“Veliaj, through concrete actions that have culminated in his signature, has approved in each case the distribution of public funds as well as construction permits to several commercial entities, closely linked to him. These public funds have then ended up with several non-profit organizations, limited liability companies, natural persons controlled de jure and de facto by his wife, Ajola Xoxa, and individuals close to the latter, creating a suspicious and complicated network of transactions”, the Prosecution announces.
SPAK has collected evidence that raises suspicions about the existence and functioning of a corrupt scheme, the breakdown of which in summary results that public funds originating from the institution of the Municipality of Tirana, with the signature of the head, have passed directly to the latter’s wife (consequently to Veliaj himself) and her family circle through NGOs and legal entities controlled de jure and de facto by her.
They have also passed through sponsorships, liquidations of fictitious invoices or purchases, made by commercial entities, which in turn have obtained construction permits or public funds from the Municipality of Tirana, to NGOs, limited liability companies and natural persons controlled de jure and de facto by the wife of the Mayor of Tirana; as well as having passed as immovable property of considerable value.
They were also spent on large purchases by the wife of the mayor of Tirana, camouflaging these purchases through other persons. Every transfer of these public funds and the issuance of construction permits was carried out with the approval of Mayor Veliaj. /albeu.com/
Security measures signed by the GJKKO:
Erion Veliaj – ‘prison arrest’ – Measure executed
Ajola Xoxa – ‘house arrest’ – Measure executed
Elman Abule – Businessman – prison arrest – Measure executed
Shkëlqim Fusha – businessman – Obligation to appear
Gentian Sula – businessman – Obligation to appear
Meriman Palushi – businessman – Obligation to appear
Fatmir Bektashi – businessman – Obligation to appear
Sokol Kryeziu – businessman – Obligation to appear
