The GJKKO has ordered the launch of investigations by SPAK against Democratic Party MP and former prosecutor Arjan Ndoja, who is suspected of “laundering the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity” and “concealing or failing to declare assets.”
The decision was made by Judge Erjon Çela, who found the absolute invalidity of the Tirana Prosecution’s request to dismiss the case. According to the GJKKO, the request submitted by the prosecution does not meet the legal requirements and for this reason the acts have been returned to SPAK, the institution that has the subject matter competence to continue the investigations into MP Ndoja.
The case is related to criminal proceedings No. 1804 of 2023, where Ndoja is suspected of violations provided for by Articles 287 and 257/a of the Criminal Code.
It is learned that an investigation into Ndoja’s assets and money laundering had been launched since 2023.
Ndoja became a deputy in the parliamentary elections of May 11, while the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has asked the Tirana Court of First Instance to dismiss the case.
But the Tirana Court has declared its lack of jurisdiction and has asked the GJKKO to express its opinion on this request.
Today, Judge Çela has found the absolute invalidity of the request to discontinue the investigations.
He has decided that all the investigative acts that the Tirana Prosecution has conducted for 2 years, will be transferred to SPAK. Meanwhile, he orders the Special Prosecution to register criminal proceedings and launch investigations for MP Ndoja.
The GJKKO emphasized that the stay of proceedings, requested by the Tirana Prosecution Office on July 25, 2024, is absolutely invalid.
The editorial team contacted Mr. Ndoja for a comment on the decision and the investigations, but he did not respond.
SPAK is expected to continue the investigation into former prosecutor Ndoja, while the GJKKO decision confirms that the case could not be dismissed by the Tirana Prosecution Office. The investigations include suspicions of money laundering and undeclared assets, being linked to a broader context that is also related to violent events and criminal groups that have targeted the former prosecutor.
According to the investigation, in August 2019, the Durrës group led by Plaurent Dervishaj had former prosecutor Ndoja, his family and friends under surveillance . Two months later, on November 1, the assassination attempt on Ndoja turned tragic. Ndoja was seriously injured, his friend Rrumi was also injured, while their 24-year-old driver, Andi Maloku, died. They were traveling in an SUV, which was shot near the Shkozet overpass by a Mercedes Benz E Class. Police later found the car used by the assassins in the village of Shkafëne i Ishmi, abandoned with two automatic rifles, a pistol with a silencer and clothing related to the incident.
Investigations identified Ariol Halilaj as the person who transported the perpetrators and Redjan Rraja as one of the assassins. Rraja was arrested four days after the incident, while Halilaj six months later.
Conversations revealed by the Sky ECC app show Dervishaj’s involvement.
“I’ll tell that Arjan that you have from me, word for word […] there’s no more time, father, brother, anyone to get in my way […] I knew who was in the car and I wanted to catch them both, but it wasn’t written because the first gun jammed and they were given the opportunity to escape,”
Another group message talks about the corruption of a police officer.
“I’ll buy him a car because we need it, he’s a very good friend for God’s sake, if you had told me from the beginning, I would have destroyed all the [evidence],” he said, according to the investigative files.
These transcriptions tell not only about the consequences of the assassination, but also about Dervishaj’s efforts to control the investigations and save his collaborators.
For the November 1, 2019 assassination attempt, the Special Prosecution Office indicted 11 people, including Dervishaj, Redjan Rraja, and Ariol Halilaj. The Special Court has handed down severe sentences, with Redjan Rraja sentenced to life imprisonment and Ariol Halilaj to 35 years in prison. The others are awaiting trial.
Gazetare në “Rrjetin e Raportimit të Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri”- RRKOKSH.