Washington Post: Saimir Tahiri risks up to 15 years in prison

Foreign media have echoed the Red Crimes Court's decision on the extent of house arrest for former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri.

The Washington Post Writing

The former Albanian Interior Minister was put under house arrest, while he is under investigation for corruption and alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring, Albania's chief prosecutor's office said.

Prosecutors had demanded that Saimir Tahiri be held in custody, but Denion Ndenika, spokesman for the Prosecutor's Office, said the court placed him under house arrest.

Tahiri, 48, was interior minister during 2013-2017 in Albania's socialist government and resigned as a lawmaker a week ago. He is accused of links to a criminal group suspected of trafficking large quantities of cannabis. Some of the leaders of the trafficking network were arrested in Italy and Albania.

Tahiri has strongly denied ties to the group. He's under investigation for seven months.

If charges brought against drugs and corruption are confirmed, he faces a 15-year maximum prison sentence.

Tahiri's lawyer, Max Hadzia, said prosecutors have not presented new evidence justifying restrictions on his client's freedom. Haxhia said he will appeal the house arrest verdict issued by the Randa Criminal Court in the capital, Tirana.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said he respects the court's decision and called for a “independent, transparent” process.
The US Embassy in Albania welcomed the move of the arrest for Tahiri, saying in a statement that the “this important corruption case will be properly and transparently deployed in the” courts.