Murder of former police officer/ Santiago Malko's mother: Leonard Duka should be sentenced to death

2026-01-19 12:34:00, Aktualitet CNA

Murder of former police officer/ Santiago Malko's mother: Leonard Duka

The trial of Leonard Duka, suspected of involvement in the murder of former police officer Santiago Malko, is underway today. The former officer's mother has requested the death penalty for Duka, as, according to her, he is the person who executed her son.

"Leonard Duka killed my son. He brought Erlis Duka and Ilir Selmani to me and told me that I had nothing to do with Santi, but he went out and killed my son in the middle of the street. I don't want a life sentence, I want the death penalty for this," she said.

On the other hand, Duka declared in the hearing that he is innocent and claimed that everything was staged by the police.

"I declare that I am innocent and the Prosecutor has no facts against me. This is a fabrication by the police to harm me. I have faith in justice," he is reported to have said.

The Duke's lawyer also stated that there is no evidence of his involvement in the murder, while saying that the transcripts from Sky Ecc cannot be used as evidence under Albanian legislation, as they are illegal.

"The conclusions of SPAK are not based on evidence and law. There is no evidence, but only deductions created by an incomplete and biased investigative process, based more on stories reported in the media. Witness Blendi Teta has stated before the court that he was threatened and pressured by the State Police and Ervis Martinaj, and these are serious violations of the law.

The testimony no longer serves the truth, but a fabrication of evidence. The testimony of Tete, who claims in Court that he gave it under pressure from Ervis Martini, cannot be used by the Prosecutor in final conclusions. The testimony of Blendi Tete is also confirmed by that of Ilir Selmani, the other co-defendant. Making them credible. Selmani has also said before this court that 500 thousand euros were given to sink the Duka brothers.

The prosecution says that the murder was committed in retaliation for two injuries allegedly committed by the victim Santiago Malko, but those events are still unsolved and investigators have suspended proceedings because they have not found the perpetrators. How can the prosecutor determine the perpetrator of those events, while the competent persons who investigated them have not identified them?

The Sky Ecc transcripts are not legal evidence and the results derived from them are illegal under Albanian legislation. They violate the freedom and confidentiality of correspondence. The interception by the French authorities constitutes mass interception, it was not targeted. The identification made by the OPGJ of the codes was amateurish and unreliable, as standard procedures were not followed. Leonard Duka himself stated before the court that he did not use the Sky application , "the lawyer said.

The Special Prosecution Office filed charges against Leonard and Erlis Duka, accused of involvement in the murder of former officer Santiago Malko. SPAK requested 32 years in prison for Leonard Duka and 25 years for Erlis Duka. The Special Court is expected to issue a ruling on the case on January 21, at 11:45. /CNA