SPAK has closed the investigations into one of the most important criminal cases in Shkodra and has sent to trial four defendants accused of the murder of Fatbardh Lici in 2018, an execution linked to a chain of conflicts between rival groups in the city.
In the request to the Special Court, SPAK raises serious charges against Behar Brajović, Safet Rustemi, Astmer Bilali and Eria Ago, who, according to investigations, acted within a structured criminal group.
According to the investigation file, tensions between the defendants and the Lici family had begun years ago, fueled by the fight for areas of influence in Shkodër. The situation worsened in July 2018, when Boran Bërcana and his wife, Silvi Ndoci, were killed. An event that, according to SPAK, Behar Brajović attributed to Ibrahim Lici, Fatbardh Lici’s nephew.
Just a few weeks later, on August 10, 2018, the clash took the form of a revenge attack by executing Fatbardh Lici.
SPAK says that Behar Brajović organized the assassination, while the execution was carried out by Astmer Bilali, accompanied by Safet Rustemi. The pair were traveling in a stolen Benz vehicle, with license plates AA 760 FX.
According to investigations conducted by the investigative group, the murder of Fatbardh Lici was staged by Behar Bajri, who sought revenge against Ibrahim Lici.
“From the communications conducted, it appears that citizen Boran Berçana was an acquaintance of the person under investigation Behar Bajri and citizen Gjin Boriçi, where the latter stated that he had a brother. The person under investigation attributed the murder of citizen Boran Bërçana to citizen Ibrahim Lici and for this reason began to plan and prepare a conflict between citizen Ibrahim Lici and Astmer Bilali. Since from the communications conducted with Ibrahim it appears that the latter is difficult to meet, he prepared the murder of the family members of citizen Ibrahim Lici, specifically, his uncle Fatbardh Lici, since the latter constantly consumed coffee at the usual time, in the bar rented by citizen Sokol Lici” – argues the prosecution.
During the daily schedule, when Fatbardh Lici was drinking coffee at his brother’s bar in Shkodra, the gray vehicle approached the table where the victim was standing.
According to SPAK, Astmer Bilali emerged from the passenger seat and opened fire with an automatic weapon at Lici, leaving him dead on the spot.
The vehicle then sped away towards the Dobraç area, where it was found burned a short time later. According to the investigation, Bilali and Rustemi entered the alley near the latter’s apartment, to lose track.
While Rustem remained in Shkodra after the assassination, Bilali immediately left for Tirana.
He was accompanied by the defendant Eria Ago, who, according to SPAK, provided considerable assistance in the perpetrator’s escape.
The defendants face serious charges that include premeditated murder in collaboration, for revenge motives, participation in a structured criminal group, illegal possession of weapons of war and commission of criminal offenses by a criminal organization. Meanwhile, for Eria Ago, SPAK has filed charges of supporting the perpetrator of the crime.
In February 2025, the Special Prosecution Office announced that it had obtained “evidence that Safet and Behar Bajri and Astmer Bilali planned, organized and carried out the murder of Ibrahim Lici’s close associate on August 10, 2018 in the city of Shkodra.”
The police arrested Safet Bajri and explained through a press release that a measure of “prison arrest” had been approved against him by the Special Court on charges of “premeditated murder” as well as the charge of “structured criminal group”.
RRKOKSH (Rrjeti për Raportimin e Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri), organizata juaj kryesore mediatike investigative e angazhuar për të hedhur dritë mbi krimin e organizuar dhe korrupsionin në të gjithë Shqipërinë. Nëpërmjet platformës sonë online në shteg.org, ne ofrojmë një gazetari të plotë dhe me ndikim që synon jo vetëm të informojë, por edhe të nxisë ndryshimet shoqërore.
