Suspicions of a joint corruption scheme involving judge Enerjeta Shehaj and her husband, former prosecutor Erjon Shehaj

Judge Enerjeta Shehaj (Deraj) was confirmed in office in October 2022, despite the concerns raised by Theo Jacobs, a representative of the International Monitoring Operation.

She had been accused of allowing illegal construction through falsified documents and on unlawfully occupied land, as well as using fictitious loans backed by unregistered notarial deeds to justify her assets.

Suspicions of document forgery were also raised during the proceedings.

According to the allegations, an interest group behind Judge Shehaj is suspected of having paid 500,000 euros to prevent her dismissal.

The allegation concerns the adjudicating panel’s use of double standards, disregarding findings of unjustified assets, suspicions of money laundering, the facilitation of illegal activities, and claims that the judge had been caught exerting unlawful influence.

In June 2020, two years before the vetting process was completed, Enerjeta Shehaj (Deraj) applied for a seat on the Supreme Court.

Her application was accompanied by a complaint alleging that she had concealed a report of unlawful influence. Nevertheless, in May 2023, the High Judicial Council appointed Shehaj to the Administrative Court of Appeal in Tirana.

Her husband, Erjon Shehaj, had been confirmed in office in April 2022. At the time, he served as chief prosecutor in Lezhë and had been implicated in deals involving case files, particularly in favoring individuals involved in drug trafficking.

His vetting process was conducted by a panel chaired by Alma Faksaj, with Pamela Qirko as rapporteur and Brunilda Bekteshi as a member.

Despite the problems identified regarding his professionalism and the lack of lawful sources for his declared assets, the panel spared him from dismissal.

That decision was later overturned by the Special Appeals Chamber. In April 2025, the Chamber ordered Erjon Shehaj’s dismissal, finding him unfit to serve as a prosecutor. Former Commissioner Florian Ballhysa had initially sought his dismissal, arguing that Shehaj did not meet the minimum qualifying standard under the professional competence criterion.

Later, former SPAK head Altin Dumani, after assuming the powers of the Public Commissioner, supported the grounds for appeal and sought Shehaj’s removal, accusing him of favoring dangerous individuals.

According to information cited during the proceedings, Erjon Shehaj had failed to register proceedings for a number of criminal offenses referred by the police and, in other cases, had ordered investigations to be closed.

One of the people he investigated for “Production and sale of narcotics” and “Unauthorized possession and production of explosive weapons and ammunition” had been caught with about 3 kg of hashish and a modified explosive substance designed to enable remote detonations via mobile phones.

The case had been reviewed by prosecutor Shehaj, while the person caught with the drugs and explosives avoided imprisonment and was sentenced to probation. According to the allegations, such a decision could encourage the commission of serious criminal offenses.

Shehaj is also accused of using his office to pursue lawyer Ded Guri, with whom he had a personal conflict.

Guri was investigated and charged over a threatening letter sent to the prosecutor, but was later acquitted, while Shehaj faced no legal punishment.

Three months after his dismissal, in July of last year, former prosecutor Erjon Shehaj opened a law office near QSUT in Tirana. Several wiretaps and proactive SPAK corruption investigations are suspected of having led to this office, now run by Shehaj in his capacity as a lawyer.

It is alleged that the office serves as a front for a corruption scheme in which court cases are purportedly won through cooperation with his wife, Administrative Court of Appeal judge Enerjeta Shehaj, in exchange for bribes whose amounts vary by case.

Tips and proactive SPAK investigations have raised suspicions that the law office is used to finalize deals involving Judge Enerjeta Shehaj’s rulings. It has been alleged that recordings exist in which she appears to negotiate case files and exert unlawful influence. According to the suspicions, the reasoning for her rulings is also drafted in the same office.

In these cases, the parties are formally represented by other lawyers, while Judge Shehaj’s vote on judicial panels is suspected of being determined, valued and sold in her husband’s office.

According to the allegations, the proceeds from this scheme are laundered through real estate investments disguised by loans and contracts listing very low values, as well as through assets registered in the names of trusted individuals. These include apartments, shops, shares and other interests.