SPAK: 8 court hearings postponed due to unexcused absences in the case against Erion Veliaj

2025-12-05 16:20:00, Aktualitet CNA

SPAK: 8 court hearings postponed due to unexcused absences in the case against

SPAK has shared this Friday a clarifying information on the procedural developments of criminal case no. 27/2024, against Erion Veliaj and the other defendants in the case.

According to SPAK, from September 29 to date, 8 court hearings have been postponed due to the unjustified absence of the defendants' defense attorneys or their unfair requests, preventing the completion of the preliminary trial within the deadlines provided for by the Code of Criminal Procedure*.

Clarification from SPAK:

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime clarifies several procedural circumstances related to the trial of the criminal case against the defendant Erion Veliaj and other defendants.

Criminal proceedings, no. 27 of 2024, were sent for trial to the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime on 10.9.2025.

The Special Court scheduled the first session of the preliminary trial for 29.9.2025. Since then, 8 court sessions have been postponed due to the unjustified absence of the defendants' defense attorneys or their unjustified requests, preventing the completion of the preliminary trial within the deadlines provided for by the Code of Criminal Procedure*.

Regarding the repeated claims of the defendant, Erion Veliaj, for familiarization with the acts of criminal proceedings, no. 27/2024, we emphasize the fact that the Special Prosecution Office has fully fulfilled the obligations arising from Article 327/2/3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Within the deadline provided for by Article 324 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the prosecutors have notified the defendant and his defense attorneys of the conclusion of the preliminary investigations. In addition to the summary description of the criminal act for which the defendant is being prosecuted, Erion Veliaj has also been notified of his right to familiarize himself with the acts and to receive copies of them.

In exercising this right, the defense attorneys of the defendant Erion Veliaj, on 24.7.2025, received, free of charge, a copy of the criminal proceedings, no. 27 of 2024. This fact is documented in the relevant minutes of 24.7.2025, signed by one of the lawyers chosen by the defendant Erion Veliaj.

Not only that, but on 10.10.2025, the same selected lawyer made a request to the proceeding body for the provision of a copy of the acts, which reflect the additional investigative actions carried out for the period 24.7.2025 to September 2025. In this request, the selected lawyer himself states that; "on 23.07.2025 they were notified of the completion of the investigations and a USB with copies of the acts of this criminal proceeding was made available to them."

The prosecutors in the case emphasize that the subsequent manner of interaction after this procedural moment, between the defendant and the lawyer chosen by him, belongs to the relationship built between them and in no case involves the proceeding body with claims unfounded in law.

The Special Prosecution Office continues to enforce the law and ensure a fair and transparent judicial process.