KPMA Director Arrested for Bribery and Abuse of Official Task

Independent Commission chief for Media (KPM) Luan Latifi has been arrested today under suspicion of accepting bribes and misusing official duty.

Latifi was arrested Wednesday morning following allegations of involvement in the case of taking bribes worth 8,000.00 euros, for which Finance and KPM Administration Director Arben Bilalli was arrested on Tuesday.

At the order of the prosecutor of the case, Latif has been sent to the detention for 48 hours. The news is confirmed for the Insander Journal, Wisar Rrecaj, Luan Latifi's lawyer.

“ [Lwan Latifi] has been arrested today in the quality of the suspect, under suspicion of criminal acts taking bribes and misusing official duty in the quality of the executive head of the Independent Media Commission”, Rrecaj has said.

Latifi, interviewed for about three hours by police investigators Wednesday, has denied his alleged involvement in the case. The legal representative of the chief KPM chief has said his client is not involved in the criminal acts he is suspected of.

The interview started around 11:00. He's stopped there around 11:30. Latif had nothing to do with yesterday. None of the works were accepted or included in those works”, Latif's lawyer said. “He could have been named as head executive of the KPM, but he has nothing to do with the financial director's case”.

Kosovo police, on the order of the State Prosecutor, arrested Administration and Finance Director of Independent Media Commission Arben Bilalli on Tuesday.

Bilall allegedly demanded 8 thousand euros from a business owner, given the State Prosecutor's official announcement.

Bilalli's arrest occurred under suspicion of accepting a bribe worth $ 8,000 (U.S.), with the promise that it would affect the impunity of a business subject, for a alleged violation by the suspect, allegedly violating the KPM's rules.

Bilall is in high positions in the Independent Media Commission since 2008.