2 hours agoThat's how much money officials arrested yesterday had declared at the bank
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)Agriculture Ministry officials have been cuffed after an action that Kosovo Police have conducted yesterday. They have been arrested under suspicion of misusing official duty and taking bribes. After raids on their offices and homes, nearly half a million euros have been found. But had they declared this money [...]
A action that began last morning at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, which continued in three other locations, ended with the arrest of 10 state officials and two citizens.
They have been arrested under suspicion of misusing official office and taking bribes during the division of subsidies.
Following their arrest, police have conducted raids on the suspects' offices and settlements, where nearly half a million euros have been found.
The money was found at two locations in Gjilan and Batlava, in the latter the suspect's wife has attempted to hide.
Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption Director Nazim Sahiti, in a conversation about Gazette Express, said the money was found in rooms and toilets.
The money was found in the homes of suspects, in Batlava and Gjilan. They were found in the room, in the toilet, a suspect's wife's place tried to hide the money, and that's what happened in Batlava”, Sahiti confirmed about Express.
But had arrested officials declared that money in the Anti-Corruption Agency?
The task leader of the Agency for Agriculture Development, Agim Nuha, as cash ready, has declared there is only 200 euros.
As real estate has declared a flat worth over 18 thousand euros, while in playable wealth, it has declared a car “Fiat”, worth 3 thousand euros, which it says has bought on credit.
In his statement of wealth, he had said he also had a loan worth 6 thousand and 500 euros, which he had received for the furniture of the apartment.
As an annual inflow, Nuha had declared that she received about 650 euros from the ministry for nine months, until it later appears that she had received 1,000 and 230 euros a month from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Statovci maintains the position of payment officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development ( MBPHER).
In the register for the property declaration, as cash available in financial institutions, he has said there are about 3 thousand and 200 euros in his name, about 500 euros has a wife and over nine thousand euros have children.
He has declared he owns two houses worth 300 thousand euros. One costing 100,000 euros says it is owned jointly, while the other is worth 200 thousand euros.
In addition to houses, Statovci has declared another land worth 25 thousand euros, owned jointly.
He has also shown financial obligations. His wife has declared a loan worth 14,000 euros for the purchase of the automobile.
As an annual inflow, Statovci has declared the salary he receives from the Ministry of Agriculture worth nearly 600 euros. Meanwhile, his wife has declared three wages. Two from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and one from the Ministry of Labour and Social Management.
Otherwise, arrested officials have been sent to holding for 48 hours, except one who has been released in regular procedure.
The incumbent Agriculture Minister Besian Mustafa has also been declared in the case.
He called the media conference yesterday to show he is willing to co-operate with justice bodies for such shares.
He said he would be reserved in response because the investigations are still continuing.
Whatever we've addressed to the institutions of justice, I invite law enforcement agencies to end this case. I am willing to co-operate”, Mustafa said.
Mustafa has denied that the action could have political background.
That's not political, and I said it before I didn't want to comment. There's been an action of justice bodies”, he said.
The case has also been declared chief state prosecutor Alexander Lumez.
He said those arrested are suspected of misuse of subsidies, takeover and bribery, misuse of official duty.
According to him, collecting information and collecting evidence for the occasion has started since January.
“From January has begun collecting information and gathering evidence that has resulted in the implementation of the secret measures and surveillance measures, we have come to the conclusion of betting some locals where they can find illegally profitable money... we've made the raid on the premises, where during the raid we've seized a huge amount of money, cars, laptops, computers, etc. That will serve future procedures”, Lumez said.
