The criminal case against the former chief prosecutor of Vlora, Aurel Zarka, will be returned for trial to the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO), after the Special Appeal decided to overturn the previous decision that sentenced him to 4 years in prison.
The decision was announced this Wednesday by the Special Court of Appeal, which, relying on articles 428 and 429 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, ordered the return of the acts for retrial with another panel of judges.
“The Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime decided to overturn decision no. 36, dated 20.05.2025 of the Special Court of First Instance and to return the case to the same court with another panel,” the official announcement of the Appeal states.
This decision brings former prosecutor Zarka, who was initially convicted by the GJKKO for active and passive corruption and for exercising illegal influence over persons exercising public functions, back to the courtroom.
On May 20, 2025, the GJKKO found Zarka guilty and sentenced him to 4 years in prison, while due to the request for a summary trial, the sentence was reduced by a third, ending in 2 years and 8 months of effective imprisonment.
The court also ruled that he be banned from public office for 5 years, with the sentence to begin on July 29, 2024, the day of his arrest.
Aurel Zarka was involved in one of the most sensational files of recent years, the one known as “Toyota Yaris”, related to the discovery of 3.4 million euros undeclared in vehicles imported from Belgium in 2018.
Chronology of the Case
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The “Toyota Yaris” event
3.4 million euros undeclared inside Toyota Yaris cars are discovered at the port of Durres. Investigations later reveal links to justice officials, including prosecutor Aurel Zarka.
SPAK opens criminal proceedings no. 26/2024
An investigation has been registered against Aurel Zarka, Astrit Vladi, Radovan Çela and Eriona Daupaj for active and passive corruption and exercising illegal influence.
Aurel Zarka arrested
By order of the Special Court, the former prosecutor is arrested and sent to pre-trial detention. The date of arrest marks the beginning of the possible sentence.
SPAK sends the file for trial to the GJKKO
After completing the investigations, the Special Prosecution Office takes the case for trial to the Special Court of First Instance.
Division of acts
SPAK separates several communications and registers new criminal proceedings, involving other judicial persons suspected of having sought or obtained illegal benefits.
The decision of the GJKKO
The court finds Aurel Zarka guilty: He is sentenced to 4 years in prison (reduced to 2 years and 8 months due to the summary trial).
5 years ban from public office.
SPAK had requested a sentence of 6.4 years in prison.
Appeal of the decision
Zarka’s defense is appealing the decision of the Criminal Court of Kosovo, requesting the annulment of the sentence and a retrial of the case.
Special Appeal Decision
The Court of Appeal overturns the decision of May 20, 2025. Returns the file for retrial to the GJKKO with a different trial panel.
According to SPAK, the former prosecutor of Vlora, in collaboration with Astrit Vladin, Radovan Çela and Eriona Daupaj, offered and accepted irregular benefits to influence justice officials in several criminal proceedings.
At the time of the suspected actions, Zarka was working as a prosecutor at the Prosecution Office at the Vlora Court of First Instance, while Daupaj was a judicial police officer at the former Serious Crimes Prosecutor’s Office.
SPAK’s investigations included several criminal cases related to the “Vladi” group, with requests for changes in security measures, interference in proceedings, and failure to initiate investigations.
In the 2025 court hearings, SPAK requested a sentence of 6.4 years in prison for former prosecutor Zarka, accusing him of active involvement in influence peddling and corruption schemes.
In the disclosed decision of the GJKKO, Zarka was found guilty of several episodes of exercising illegal influence and of acts of active and passive corruption in the justice system.
In January 2025, SPAK announced that it had separated part of the acts of the “Toyota Yaris” file and had opened new criminal proceedings. From the intercepted communications, other characters with judicial functions were mentioned, against whom investigations are ongoing for exercising illegal influence and corruption.
Gazetare në “Rrjetin e Raportimit të Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri”- RRKOKSH.