Veliaj granted a building permit, the businessman brought 50 thousand euros in one day to the Xoxa NGO

2025-02-12 17:30:00, Politikë CNA

Veliaj granted a building permit, the businessman brought 50 thousand euros in

A construction permit approved by the mayor of Tirana, Erjon Veliaj, on July 19, 2023, for the commercial entity "Palushi", administered by businessman Meriman Palushi, according to SPAK, was the cause of the transfer of 50 thousand euros to the accounts of two NGOs of Ajola Xoxa, "Eventus" and "BYL-A".

The amount of 50 thousand euros was divided into two invoices, where within one day on September 6, 2023, 20 thousand euros were paid by the entity "Palushi" to "BYL-A" with the description "Artistic Festival Financing" and 30 thousand euros to the "Eventues" center with the description "Artistic Festival Financing".

In the SPAK file, it is stated that 2 months before the 50 thousand euros were transferred to the two NGOs controlled by Ajola Xoxa, Erjon Veliaj, on July 19, 2023, approved a building permit for the entity "Palushi", for the construction of an individual two-story villa plus 1 floor underground.

SPAK prosecutor Altin Dumani has raised strong suspicions that the amount of money was paid through two invoices from "Palushi" as a form of bribery in exchange for granting permission for the construction of the villa by the company in question.

Regarding the activity of these two invoices, it has emerged that from the communications between financiers Adela Kondakçiu and Albana Koçollari, held on September 5, 2023, it is established that the latter asks Adela Kondakçiu to initiate invoices that total 50 thousand euros.

Prior to this request, Albana Koçollari asks Adela Kondakçiu that invoices be issued without VAT by natural persons, without specifying who these persons should be.

This was so that “Palushi” would not pay more than they had agreed to. Of interest is the fact that the invoices are discussed between Adela Kondakçiu and Albana Koçollari and not with representatives of “Palushi”, and both invoices with this description are issued on the same date and with the same description, excluding VAT, according to the request previously made by Albana Koçollari.

Furthermore, SPAK says, Tirana Mayor Erjon Veliaj a year later, on July 19, 2024, signed a 48-month construction permit for the private entity "Palushi", with the aim of building a 12-story building in Tirana.

Also, another construction permit signed by Erjon Veliaj on behalf of the "Palushi" company is on November 5, 2019 for the construction of a 10-story building in Tirana. / CNA