Unauthorized construction in a protected area in Butrint/ Saranda Prosecution sends 5 people to court

2025-12-27 09:31:00, Aktualitet CNA

Unauthorized construction in a protected area in Butrint/ Saranda Prosecution

The Saranda Prosecutor's Office has sent five people to court who allowed unauthorized construction in the protected area of ??Butrint. The prosecutor's office announced that among these people are the chief inspector and inspectors of the Local Inspectorate of Territorial Protection in Saranda for the criminal offenses of "Abuse of Duty" and "Illegal Construction".

The investigations have revealed that in the Ksamil area, in the place called "Vivarit Canal", it was built in a protected area on a large area without a construction permit from the Territorial Development Agency and without a contract with the National Coastal Agency. Meanwhile, the Vivarit Canal is part of the "Butrint" National Park and has the status of a Natural Monument (MN).

Prosecutor's Office Announcement:

Unauthorized constructions were allowed in the protected area of ??Butrint, the Saranda Prosecution Office sends to court for 'Abuse of duty' the chief inspector and inspectors of the IVMT, as well as the persons who built without a permit

The Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Saranda has completed the investigations and is sending five citizens to trial, including the chief inspector and the inspector of the Local Inspectorate of Territorial Protection (IVMT), Saranda, for the criminal offenses of 'Abuse of office' and 'Illegal construction', provided for by articles 248 and 199/a/4 of the Criminal Code.

From the investigations into criminal proceedings no. 416 of 2023, it resulted that in the Ksamil area, in the place called "Vivarit Canal", a large area was built in a protected area without a construction permit from the Territorial Development Agency and without a contract with the National Coastal Agency.

The Vivari Canal is part of the "Butrint" National Park and has the status of Natural Monument (MN) according to Decision no. 303, dated 10.5.2019 "On the approval of the revised list of Albanian natural monuments" (updated), amended by Council of Ministers No. 187 dated 25.03.2021 "Revision"

The employees of the IVMT Municipality did not conduct legal procedures regarding the complete assessment of the works and the imposition of the administrative measure of 'fine'.

The following citizens were brought to trial:

· RP, for the criminal offenses “Illegal construction”, provided for by article 199/a/4 of the Criminal Code and “Land occupation” provided for by article 200 of the Criminal Code. “Land misuse” provided for by article 199 and “Damage to habitats in environmentally protected areas” provided for by article 202/bi of the Criminal Code;

· The Legal Person "Laguna Invest", for the criminal offense "Illegal Construction" provided for by Article 199/a/4 of the Penal Code, "Land Occupation" provided for by Article 200 of the Penal Code;

· Citizens EZ, BK, VX, with the duty of inspector of IVMT, Municipality of Saranda at the time of the commission of the criminal offense, accused of the criminal offense "Abuse of office" provided for by Article 248 of the Criminal Code; and

· Citizen AM, acting as Chief Inspector of the IVMT Municipality of Saranda, at the time of the commission of the criminal offense, charged with the criminal offense of "Abuse of office" provided for by Article 248 of the Criminal Code. / CNA