The Ministry of Justice has officially filed a request with the Swiss authorities for the extradition of former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj. The news was announced this Friday in the Special Court, where Judge Irena Gjoka read the information received from Interpol Tirana, in a session where it was decided that the process against Ahmetaj in the “Buka” file will continue in absentia.
In the same session, SPAK requested the case to be sent for trial on the merits, while prosecutor Elvin Gokaj read the charges and the list of 14 witnesses that the Prosecution wants to call, including former Finance Minister Shkëlqim Cani. The prosecutor explained that during the investigations, large money transfers from Albania to a European Union country have been identified, which are being verified for their origin and purpose.
For his part, Ahmetaj’s lawyer, Henrik Ligori, stated that “no security measures exist” for his client in this case, underlining that the international search is related to other proceedings. He also opposed the Prosecutor’s Office’s referral for new investigations, demanding that the process be conducted without “surprise acts.”
The panel of judges headed by Judge Erjon Çela accepted SPAK’s request and decided to send the case for trial on the merits, after two postponements of the investigations that lasted a total of 6 months.
According to SPAK’s investigations, Arben Ahmetaj is accused of “abuse of office”, a criminal offense that is suspected of causing the state an economic damage of 7 billion lek. The prosecution claims that Ahmetaj, at the time he headed the Ministry of Finance, favored businessman Lirim Fezollari in the privatization process of the company “Buka sh.a”.
SPAK has divided the investigation between Fezollari and four other officials from the Ministry of Finance, while bringing only Ahmetaj to trial.
Investigations into the privatization of the company “Buka sh.a” have revealed that Fezollari currently owns 89.48% of the shares, while the Ministry of Finance holds 4.73%. The company operates in various fields, from asset management, trade and import-export, to gastronomy and cultural activities.
According to SPAK, the relationship between Ahmetaj and Fezollari is suspected to have gone beyond institutional communication, paving the way for the businessman to unfairly benefit from the privatization process.
Arben Ahmetaj has been internationally wanted since July 2023, following investigations into the Elbasan and Fier incinerators. SPAK accuses him of “hiding assets”, “passive corruption” in six episodes and “money laundering”. Two previous proceedings have been merged into one, while the “Buka” file constitutes the latest open case against the former deputy prime minister.
Gazetare në “Rrjetin e Raportimit të Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri”- RRKOKSH.