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Theft, abuse, corruption?/ Water supply scandal, how is being tried to hide the truth
Two media personalities Mira Kazhani and Bieta Sulo, have returned to the spotlight on social networks, after strong statements made by Prime Minister Edi Rama with the mayors, regarding the issue of water supply.
Rama was quite harsh, saying that there worked people who actually lived abroad, and yet they received monthly salaries. So a scandal that the Prime Minister beyond the fact that he publicly denounces, it should lead to the prosecution.
Furthermore, the structures of the State Police and the Ministry of Interior, should arrest in flagrance the directors of water supply or finances who make payments to persons who are abroad. And this is easily verifiable by the TIMS system.
Rama was also tough on the debts of the water supply companies, where 2 of the main ones in the country, financed by the German bank KFV during the rule of the Democratic Party, that of Korça and Pogradec, although they have a very good performance with payments, cannot pay the loans.
So we have troubled water supply. Debt-ridden, with billions of Lek thrown away, loans, inflated administrative structures, and money being paid to people who don’t work at all or to citizens even though they have more water, they pay less money, and a government that even though it does more much investment, provides less water for citizens.
And in front of these stand Bieta Sulo and Mira Kazhani as a debate on social networks.
The problem with journalists being part of the boards or as advisors to the leaders of such institutions doesn’t start with Bieta and doesn’t end with Mira either.
Journalists have often been on boards, all without exception. From the first to the last of those who stay in state offices or are even invited through television studios. Or them from analysts who have been advisor, board members, or even heads of institutions, and who today speak on behalf of media independence.
Being journalists on boards or as advisors in institutions, is not the biggest problem of the financial pit of water supply. The problem lies elsewhere. At the heart of water supply issues are mismanagement. Large loans, lack of water supply and non-payment by citizens, theft of water and lack of culture to pay for water, as an Albanian “disease” in certain areas.
Thus, the water supply company in Berat has taken a 1 million dollars loan to buy meters that cost from 120-140 euros each, when in the market at that time they cost 15-20 dollars, and the highest quality one cost a maximum of 40 dollars. So they are bought 3-7 times more expensive than the market price.
And 1 million dollars was taken by ITS, the same company that is involved and accused of having links with the government, with Klodian Zoto, Mirel Mërtiri and the latter’s cohabitant Stela Gugalla, who are the people involved in the corrupt scheme of incinerators.
In Korça, everything started 8 years ago. ITS received at least 6 billion Lek for water supply meters for which the Supreme State Audit has said that the director should have been fired and led to criminal prosecution. But he continues to be in office to this day.
The money went to the “incinerators”, with the same price difference as in Berat. The same scandal occurred in the Lushnja water supply system. One of the most problematic, again takes millions of dollars in debt and loans for meters, the price of which is set at the discretion of the company itself.
An open tender would suffice, and we would be in a different situation, and the water utilities would save millions of euros. Meanwhile, just a few months ago, Tirana Water Supply gave Klodian Zoto another 1 billion Lek for smart meters.
Same as those of Berat, Korça, Pogradec, Lushnja, or in Fier, etc. The facts are hundreds. The will of an investigative institution, such as the prosecution or the SPAK, is enough to go and start investigations in Korça, Berat, Lushnje, Fier or even Tirana, and there are so many documents and facts inside that there would be no place in Albanian prisons for thefts that abused with the water supply systems of Albania./CNA.al
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SP has elections in the Albanian Football Federation!
There is nothing to be surprised about! The media publish the audio-tapping of the conversations of the mayor of Tirana, Edion Veliaj, which he doesn’t deny. There is nothing to be surprised about! There are elections in the Albanian Football Federation.
It is the last island not occupied by the Socialist Party. This institution is intended to be brought under control, with the argument that after 20 years Armando Duka should leave the leadership.
For this reason there is a scenario:A charlatan, ridiculous and disgusting candidate like Dritan Shakohoxha is placed in front of him, who will then leave, and Eduart Prodani will be placed in his place. A scheme built long ago by allegedly some personal enemies of Mr.Duka. But in fact, beyond the competition within the sport, the goal is the capture of the Albanian Football Federation by the Socialist Party. In the AFF, in the sector that the SP calls as its internal parts, there is a race.
But it is controlled by hostile groups, by people who don’t serve the Prime Minister Edi Rama for the interests of the latter, or the mayor of Tirana, or any quarrelsome like Erion Braçe who has long attacked Armando Duka.
Duka is not a “saint”. Maybe he is not wanted by everyone, but at least Duka is not a hostage of the government. He is not an instrument used by the SP. And as long as he is like that, it is better to stay Duka again, than any other person who would turn the Albanian Football Federation into a municipal directorate, or in any part of the government, where there would be daily intervention by Ëngjëll Agaçi, or other tools that Edi Rama uses to govern.
The Socialist Party has captured everything. With the last wiretapping we realized that SPAK also has it under its control. We also know that SP has the prosecution, the government in his hands, but he has taken the opposition hostage and uses Lulzim Basha as he pleases.
Now he has to take football as well, as other sports have no interest. The SP intends to win the elections in the Albanian Football Federation, that is why elections are taking place. Not to elect its president, but it is a battle for the SP to take over the president of the federation, in order for him to turn into a soldier of Edi Rama./E.K-CNA.al
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The new oligarch with 10 billion Lek / Lulzim Basha will increase his wealth with 4.7 million euros from albanian taxes
The dismissed chairman of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha will benefit about 4.7 million euros, money which comes directly from the taxes of albanians citizen. A source close to Lulzim Basha’s family told CNA.al that after the family tragedy, the death of Mr.Basha’s father-in-law a few days ago will be soon prepared all the legal documents of the inheritance of Xhaferr Isufi, Aurela’s father, Lulzim Basha’s wife.
The amount that Basha and his wife will benefit is at least 4.7 million euros, not counting here other inherited assets or available monetary values. According to the Albanian Civil Code, from article 316 to article 418 it is explained in detail how is passed the inheritance.
And in case Mr. Isufi has left a testament, Lulzim Basha benefits again, as he has space through “Legal Reserve” due to his minor girls. Another legal expert told CNA.al that the value of 14 million euros obtained in the Strasbourg Court by the late Xhaferr Isufi, has not yet been paid by the government.
At the moment this amount will be disbursed according to law of the Albanian state, will pass to his wife and 2 children, respectively by about 4.7 million euros each. And it should be noted that this amount of money must be paid by the State Treasury from the taxes of albanians citizen.
An amount that is expected to bring Lulzim Basha’s wealth to a dizzying value, which can reach the value of 9 million dollars or 10 billion Lek. Lulzim Basha has currently declared wealth of almost 2 billion Lek or nearly 2 million dollars. With the taxes of albanians inherited from the trials of his late father-in-law, Lulzim Basha will soon be the youngest oligarch of Albania./ CNA.al
OLIGARKU i Ri me 10 miliardë lekë / Lulzim Basha do shtojë pasurinë me 4.7 milionë euro nga taksat e shqiptarëve
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Incinerators, a corrupt affair that will be closed with a procedure, like the crimes of Lulzim Basha
It seems that the corrupt affair of the century, that of incinerators with a value of up to 430 million euros, will have the same fate as that of Lulzim Basha. Not because of losses, but because of victories through legal procedures.
The incinerator scandal has already led to the arrest of a former minister. And this only for the incinerator of Elbasan. So for one of the three investments of 178 million euros, and for the smallest of them that costs 22 million euros.
A corrupt affair, where Stela Gugallja was declared wanted by the police, as the owner of “Albtek Energy”, together with Klodian Zoto, who was also the builder of this incinerator through the company ITS, and was arrested the former Minister of Environment Lefter Koka, who has signed this concession.
But in the parliamentary inquiry commission set up 2 months ago, the socialists have made a clever political move, acknowledging the scandal but now demanding its closure. So, the three-month term of the parliamentary investigation ends on January 28th.
In fact, from December 7 of last year, until two days ago, ie until January 18 of this year, ie about 1 and a half months, the investigative commission on incinerator concessions has not conducted any investigation.
State institutions have returned an evasive response, using legal space to not provide complete information with justifications such as “there is sensitive data, there are personal details”. Thus, the second tier banks didn’t provide any data regarding the amounts that have been spent.
Even the Tax Directorate has not provided information on payments. Thus, they have hidden every trace and by not giving the investigative commission the opportunity to have the data in hand to make analyzes or to come to a conclusion regarding the corrupt affair of the century.
On the other hand, it was Jorida Tabaku, the leader of this commission, who slept like Lulzim Basha or has bargained with Edi Rama. For about a month and a half she has put the commission to sleep, not doing any work.
Justifying that they were waiting for official documents or answers, most of which came without any answer, without any content, or with a formal correct answer regarding the questions addressed, the term of this commission is now coming to an end.
This happens next week and it all ends. So the socialists will close the investigation with procedure, using the legal deadline of 3 months, that usually has an investigation commission. This clearly shows an agreement of Lulzim Basha with Edi Rama, as Jorida Tabaku has wasted half of the time. On the other hand, the government and his subordinate institutions have not provided the necessary information and everything is closing with a procedure. This is what happened to Lulzim Basha, in more than one case.
This is what happened to Basha over the investigation of 1.25 million dollars, paid to the company of lobbyist Nick Muzin in the USA. The investigation was closed again with procedure. The same happened with the investigation on the abuses during the construction of the Nation Road.
A report by the Supreme State Audit Office spoke of abuses in the amount of 230 million euros. Lulzim Basha has always escaped justice through proceedings. The only hope remains with SPAK. This institution has arrested a former minister only for the Elbasan incinerator. Meanwhile, another prosecutor, Dritan Prençi, is investigating the files of incinerators in Fier and Tirana. But it remains to be seen, because Prençi is also moving at a slow pace./CNA.al
Inceneratorët, afera korruptive që do mbyllet me procedurë si krimet e Lulzim Bashës
