Voa: Mayor Veliaj, over 5 hours in the Special Prosecutor's Office

2024-12-26 22:47:00, Politikë CNA

In Albania, the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj was today at the Special Prosecutor's Office, which has registered a criminal proceeding for passive corruption of local elected officials. Mr. Veliaj avoided statements at the end of his interrogation. A few days ago, his wife Ajola Xoxa was also at the Prosecutor's Office, in whose offices checks were carried out at the beginning of this month, while her mobile phone was also seized.

Mr. Veliaj appeared at the doors of the Special Prosecutor's Office shortly before 09:00, accompanied by the legal director of the Municipality of Tirana. He got out of there after a little more than 5 hours.

In contrast to the spring, when he stayed for more than 7 hours, for the Tirana incinerator case, and came out smiling, stopping for a short statement, today, he avoided stopping for journalists, announcing that he would speak at the City Council meeting in the afternoon.

A few hours later, Mr. Veliaj said that in the Special Prosecutor's Office, he was denounced by a citizen named Nesti Angoni, who, as he said, "does not exist. We all know who this name represents, what mentality it represents and what lynching culture this style represents. The mayor is in possession of the entire civil registry and can clearly verify that it is a fabricated trap. I was cooperative. It would be disturbing if the mayor does not appear even for anonymous traps. I know all of Tirana where I live. I know all of Tirana where I live, where I was before the elections, where I continue after the elections and where I will be until the end of this task. I belong to that breed of politicians who don't tell SPAK S'KAP when they don't care and tell SPAK when they care about their opponents", said Mr. Veliaj.

In his brief statement before the Municipal Council, Mr. Veliaj, however, did not give any details on the case, for which he stayed for several hours in the Special Prosecutor's Office, while at the end of his explanation, he left the hall amid the protest of the opposition councilors. and the applause of those socialists.

It is learned that the questioning of the former mayor was done in the framework of a criminal proceeding registered this year, for "Passive corruption of local elected officials". There is no charge against Mr. Veliaj. Three days ago, his wife, Ajola Xoxa, stayed at the Prosecutor's office for nearly 3 hours.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, from the investigations so far "it is found that there are concrete data that close family members as well as other family members close to the Mayor of Tirana have received illegal benefits through some companies and individuals, who have direct interests in Tirana Municipality".

Also, from the court documents, it has been learned that according to the Prosecution, "concrete actions have been evidenced which include financial transactions, dubious contracts and suspected fictitious invoices made through several companies, which are owned by registered or actually controlled by close family members and other family members of the Mayor".

Precisely following these investigations, at the beginning of this month, with the decision of the Special Court, BKH agents carried out checks in the offices of several companies of the mayor's wife. Ms. Xoxa's cell phone was also seized. Controls were also carried out in the apartments of Mr. Veliaj's brother, whose phone was also seized. Two days ago, the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of Mrs. Xoxa and the mayor's brother, against the controls exercised.

While the Prosecutor's Office investigated his role in the Tirana incinerator case, Mr. Veliaj received a blow in the spring when two former directors of the municipality were arrested, suspected of being the actual owners of the "5D" construction company, through which they had benefited. and from the public funds of the Municipality. The prosecution applied lighter security measures to some other leaders as well. At that time, Mr. Veliaj stated that he did not have any illegal personal gain with them.

Today, the Special Prosecutor's Office announced the closure of the investigation into the case of the "5D" company, which according to it turns out to have benefited from at least 12 public tenders, of which 7 in the Waterworks company where the two arrested, Redi Molla and Maringlen Qato, they had leadership functions. While 5 other tenders were won from competitions announced by the Municipality and related agencies. The prosecution has filed charges against 7 people, among whom Qato and Molla are accused of "Corruption", "Non-declaration of assets" and "Money laundering".

The prosecution also announced that it will continue the investigations for several other episodes, related to 11 other prosecution procedures as well as the possible involvement of other persons./ Voa