Prosecution Begins Investigations into Five Former Ministers for Insulting Power Plant Privatisation

The Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo has decided to launch investigations into the privatisation of four hydropower plants in a subtle manner along with the distribution and power supply network. KALLXO.com's sources within the State Prosecutor have confirmed that shortly before, the Special Prosecutor has handed over to the Pristina Court the decision to launch investigations on eight persons involved in the sale of the KEK Distribution.

Sources have clarified that six senior government officials -- including five former ministers -- are currently members of the government in the investigation. Investigations have also been launched against a KEK official and a government official involved in implementing the contract.

The decision to start the investigation has been taken after a period of nearly 2 years of pre-investigations that have begun following reports in the media. The decision to start the investigation was made just days before the passive prescription of possible criminal work took place. KED's privatisation had occurred on May 8th.

The ECDS privatisation process was led by the Privatisation Committee, which was headed by the then Minister of Economic Development Besim Beqaj. Part of the Steering Committee were Mimoza Kusar-i Lila (former Trade and Industry Minister), Dardan Gashi (E Environment Minister) Bedri Hamza ( Finance Minister), Nenad Rassic (former Labour Minister).

The case in the investigation into the privatisation of hydropower plants has also been mentioned by state chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi at the “jeta Emission in Kosovo”. He had not given much detail, but had confirmed that the Special Prosecutor has started collecting information on this case after reporting to the media. For the first time, research into the insidious privatisation of hydropower plants was published in Gazeta “Koha Ditore”.

Four hydropower plants were privatised along with the distribution and power supply. Their involvement in the tender package was kept secret, while ministers who have made key privatisation decisions have declared that they have not been informed that the package is included in the sale of hydropower plants.

Four hydropower plants have been sold along with KEDS -- theDicence hydropower plant, the Source, the Radovac and Lumbardhi hydropower plant. They have been granted concession by KEK with the aim of restoring them and increasing production capacities. At the time they were rented, according to KEK, they have had an installed capacity of 11 megawatts, but concessions have pledged that after investments making their capacity would increase to 14 megawatts. If the communiques issued by KEK are seen, at the time of the delivery of these concession plants, it turns out that 15m euros have been invested in them.

It was reported that the plants were part of the asset list, but only the components of the plants were written. The newspaper “Life in Kosovo” has analysed the asset list, only in the section of hydropower plants. /Cashho. com/