"Nursery of corruption" with pensions, measures for post office managers

2024-11-14 21:32:00, Denoncim CNA

"Nursery of corruption" with pensions, measures for post office

On June 1, 2023, the show "Stop" broadcast the denunciation of a citizen, who claimed that in the office of the Albanian Post in Kuçovo, pensions are given even without having a power of attorney, and without even asking for an identification document of the person who withdraws it. "Stop" verified the situation and we easily withdrew the pension of a pensioner who did not live in Ku?ovo.

All that was needed was the elderly woman's details and pension registration number. After receiving May's pension, we were not satisfied with that. We also asked the post office worker for her pension for June, against a cash payment. We were able to receive the June pension again, paying 15,000 old lek in hand for both months. After doing the "successful experiment", we handed over the pension for the two months to the old lady, giving her the "bribe" difference.

The whistleblower Arba Pjetri says that the head of the branch, the head of services and the employees continued to commit violations.

Arba Pjetri: President Agustina Zema, who was informed about the person who was outside and didn't want to, went by herself before leaving Albania because I don't want my pension withdrawn. My boss who allows these ladies, Rafaela Domin, Margarita Zogë, the cashier of Arka Kuçovo, who was at that time. With the full knowledge of Mr. Ledian Shehu, the head of human resources that I went to his office, I mentioned his name, last name even, and the gentleman did not take any action. And the postmaster because I've been mentioning it to him all the time and he says 'do the boss a favour'. The person in question is Ali Shehu, he is the father of the former chairman of the Socialist Party, Sybi Shehu, whom the boss used to take month by month himself. This is my boss's number. There are others who ask me for this person and another month after month. The lady wouldn't let the distributor or anyone else, she wanted to take it. Ms. Marie Prifti from an expulsion to Greece that has been confirmed by the competent authorities that has not been at the moment. This is the lady's power of attorney that has expired. I have another name, which is Vangjel Daja, who has been in America for a long time and before he fled to America, he verbally left them to Agustina Zema, when he worked for family pensions, and told her 'I don't want any of my to withdraw my pension,' but it has not been implemented. They looked at me because I always said to them, 'My, what are you doing, you're having too much time'.

Journalist: So these violations were pointed out?

Arba Pjetri: All their mistakes.

Reporter: And you informed your boss. Specifically?

Arba Pjetri: Marigela Shuaipi. Yes, and the boss knows this conversation.

Reporter: I am looking at some messages, who did you make these messages with?

Arba Pjetri: With the head of services Kuçovo, who is responsible, to communicate with the head and ask for an account. Those who work in the pension fund have some special codes that they cannot give to their colleagues, their bosses, or anyone else.

Journalist: Who did you give it to?

Arba Pjetri: I refused to give it to my colleague, it became a problem.

Journalist: Did she ask them?

Arba Pjetri: Yes. The head of Kuçova's services asked me after Rafaela Domi, she asked me constantly and I have the messages that I can prove.

Reporter: What did they need the codes for?

Arba Pjetri: They said we will check the amount at the end, but there is no amount at the end because I give what I have divided at the end, why should you ask me. They had my codes and could do anything. The worst thing I have noticed there is the theft of funerals.

After that, "Stop" had a communication with the head of the service.

Journalist: You asked for the codes and I have confirmed this with messages you exchanged with him. What codes are we talking about?

Marigela Shuaipi, head of services: When the employee does not answer me about the work because she is busy with her office mate, then she gives me the code to print the receipts, I cannot leave the work suspended.

Reporter: Madam, the former employee has made several complaints.

Marigela Shuaipi, head of services: Complaint in writing, please.

Reporter: That's the answer?

Marigela Shuaipi, head of services: Yes, this is the answer.

Journalist: But this is not an answer?

Marigela Shuaipi, head of services: The answer is no.

The director of human resources tells Arba that he broke the relationship when he filed a complaint.

HR Director: In my opinion, your relationship broke down the moment you complained about Rafaela getting her pension.

Arba Pjetri: Vangjel Daja is spent month by month. At first I came when I confronted the director. They held a meeting so that things are not passed without a power of attorney, and then the director tells me why you didn't pass the 6 million to the boss, do the boss a favor.

There are doubts that the Berat Post Office director himself is involved in this scandal. According to the whistleblower Arba Pjetri, he has been informed since the beginning, but apparently with his own actions or inactions, he has reached this point so that things remain unclear and strong shadows of suspicion as far as the Kuçova Post Office is concerned.

Arba Pjetri: I called you on the phone about the violations and pressures that took place there.

Alban Gjoka, director of Post Berat: No, no!

Arba Pjetri: Yes, it is your message here, sir, that you say "no" to me when I say "come tomorrow because I don't have a car" and you say "no".

Alban Gjoka, director of Posta Berat: Yes, this was definitely an urgent case, not the other case.

Arba Pjetri: Yes, this case happened in May 2023.

Alban Gjoka, director of Posta Berat: And for this reason you left your job, you have the minutes signed by all Kuçova employees.

Lawyer Arben Llangozi says that in connection with this case there should be a thorough investigation by the Central Post Office, since signing on behalf of a person without being present constitutes a criminal offense, which is the forgery of documents.

Arben Llangozi, lawyer: As long as there is a claim, we also have some evidence which the show "Stop" has dealt with before, then the doubt arises that there should be an inspection by the Central Post against this institution. An investigation may be administrative, but also criminal because signing on behalf of a person without being present constitutes a criminal offense of falsifying documents and this is punishable by our Criminal Code.

The General Director of the Post Office, Ardit Demiri, demands that the former employee Arba Pjetri present the evidence of the violations to the Post Office. He clarifies that in addition to the suspension of the previously denounced employee, the director of the Post Office of Berat has also recently been dismissed, as violations were found. In this case, the owner says, it is being investigated by other justice structures./ Tv klan