Obligation to appear/ "Surrendered" Beqaj: I will not appeal the decision of GJKKO

2023-11-18 16:08:00, Aktualitet CNA

Obligation to appear/ "Surrendered" Beqaj: I will not appeal the

Former minister Ilir Beqaj

The Special Court has decided the security measure "obligation to appear and ban on leaving the country" for the former minister Ilir Beqaj, for the criminal offense of abuse of office, after investigations into the sterilization concession, a 100 million euro affair.

Beqaj himself reacted to the decision of GJKKO a few moments ago. He has "surrendered" to justice, as he says that he will not appeal against SPAK's decision.

The former minister declares that he sees the accusations raised against him with reservations and claims that what he achieved with sterilization was a necessity and the best possible thing he could do for the health care of Albanians.

Ilir Beqaj in trouble/ SPAK provides security measures for the former Minister of Health
November 18, 12:55

Full statement:

Yesterday evening, immediately after my return from a business trip abroad, I was contacted by SPAK/BKH officers, who requested my appearance in their premises, to communicate and deliver a copy of the decision dated 16.11.2023, of the special judge, Mr. Erjon Bani, given on the basis of the request made by the Prosecution body itself, through which it was decided that for the needs of criminal proceedings no. 13, of 2020, which is related to the issue called sterilization, the security measure "obligation to appear at the Judicial Police" and "prohibition of exiting the country" was taken against me.

Although I have serious reservations regarding some aspects of the decision in question and my lawyers, in identifying a series of procedural and material violations that at this stage of the process have suggested that I appeal this decision, I have decided not to appeal this decision and to submit with full will to the requirements and guarantees that this investigative process requires for its normal and orderly development. My willingness to clarify the truth of this matter as soon as possible goes beyond the limitations of my personal freedoms and even beyond a normal time frame, already several years.

CNA reported the scandal/ Beqaj announces his resignation
November 18, 14:22

In addition, in order to guarantee the integrity of the investigative process and to avoid any possible misinterpretation of my influence as an official in this process, I have also decided to terminate my current engagement as head of the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination.

I hope this matter is resolved quickly and thoroughly, putting justice and truth above any bias and political attacks. I firmly believe that what we achieved with sterilization was a necessity and the best possible thing we could do in achieving such an ambitious objective as caring for the health of Albanians. I strongly believe that at the end of this process my name will be finally cleared of any unfounded accusations./ CNA