Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist 'StarTek', between millions of euros

2024-08-11 15:03:00, Aktualitet CNA

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

In January 2016, Besjona Dede (Mehmetaj) was appointed director of Social Services in the Municipality of Tirana, referring to the data she published on the professional social network, "LinkedIn".

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

A month later, the company "StarTek" owned by Lulëzim Mehmetaj, her husband, wins the tender developed by the Municipality of Tirana "Children's Play Corner".

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

The procedure developed by the mayor Erion Veliaj, with a limited fund of around 600 thousand euros, was strongly opposed by the opposition and environmentalists, as it marked the start of concreting the Artificial Lake Park.

The heated protests of several days seem to have left the suspicions of conflict of interest in a negligible corner, after Lulëzim Mehmetaj's company won the controversial tender in the institution, where his wife was part of the senior management staff.

After this first "impasse" was passed, the relations between the Municipality of Tirana and "StarTek" were consolidated, in complete disregard of the conflict of interests. With the political empowerment of the mayor of Tirana, it seems that no institution dared to start at least a minimal verification procedure.

Under this institutional passivity, in 2020, Veliaj develops the procedures for signing an exchange contract between the Municipality of Tirana and the Lulëzim Mehmetaj construction company.

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

On April 29, 2020, precisely at the height of the collective lockdown due to the pandemic caused by Covid 19, the City Council of Tirana, under the leadership of Toni Gogut, meets online, to approve the decision that allowed Erion Veliaj to sign the agreement " For the development of properties no. 1/921, no. 1/188 and no. 1/922, cadastral area 8250, owned by the Municipality of Tirana and the approval of the enterprise agreement between the municipality of Tirana and the entity Startek shpk".

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

Based on this agreement, the private company would develop a public property for construction and 40 percent of the surface at the end of the building would be transferred to the Municipality of the capital.

The public property was very close to the center of Tirana and any construction company would probably have wished to secure such a contract with the municipality headed by Veliaj.

However, this fate befell "StarTek" shpk, owned by the husband of the municipal official. Even in this case, the conflict of interest could be very obvious. But, once again, public monitoring institutions did not direct their eyes at all to Erion Veliaj's decision-making.

Reconstruction of "Sami Frashër"

Following this, the suspicious conflict of interest report between the Municipality of Tirana and "StarTek" shpk of Lulëzim Mehmetaj continues with another anathematized tender - the reconstruction of the high school "Sami Frashëri", damaged after the earthquake of November 26, 2019.

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

"StarTek" shpk won the tender procedure worth over 5.5 million euros, which was put at the center of the opposition's accusations about the inflated bill. However, the contract was signed and now Mehmetaj's company has received all the funds provided for this investment, while his wife continues to be part of the Municipality of Tirana.

Mehmetaj, "strategic" with gastor Paja

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in his capacity as the chairman of the Strategic Investments Committee, approved in September 2019 the permit for the "Dhermi Tourist Complex" project, as soon as the name of the actor of Orange, Gazmend Paja, was included in the group of companies seeking the status of strategic investor.

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist

It could be a coincidence, but there are still doubts that Rama's firm was influenced by the great closeness that exists between the head of the government and the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, with gastor Paja.

On November 11, 2017, the Strategic Investments Committee turned back the request to "Startek" company to obtain the status of strategic investor for the "Dhermi Tourism Complex" project.

In the document signed by the deputy prime minister of the time, Senida Mesi, the company was asked to complete the necessary documentation.

The request for "strategic investor" is repeated two years later. This time, "Startek" had joined the company "Ekotek Energy Services".

This second company was founded by Alket Cakaj in 2016. Cakaj is a close friend of actor Gazmend Paja.

In May 2019, Alket Cakaj sells the company "Ekotek Energy" to his friend, Gazmend Paja, while he continues to hold the position of administrator.

After this transaction, "Ekotek" of Paja and the company "Startek" turn to the Committee of Strategic Investments to obtain the status of strategic investor for "Dhermi Tourist Complex".

Three months later, on September 2, 2019, the request was successful and the project gained the status of a strategic investor, this time with Edi Rama's firm.

Under the shadow of the conflict of interests/ Veliaj-Strategist