Former Prime Minister Rikalo and others face court again today

Today, the trial is expected to continue in the case where former Agriculture Ministry, Forestry and Rural Development Minister (MBPZHR), Nenad Ricalo, Secretary General of the Ministry, Kaplan Halimi and six other officials, Shefryki Zeqiri, Ekrem Djoka, Shrezen Morina, Leon Thaci, Lindar Krasniqi and Albana Zeqi, are charged with corruption.

The last session in this case is held on June 10th, reports the “Justice Trust”.

According to the indictment compiled by the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK), on December 26, 2019, defendants Nenad Ricalo, Kapllan Halimi, Shefki Zeqiri and Ekrem Gjona are charged that, in co-operation, during 2018, in order to combat companies such as the consortium “Novus” S.P.K, for profiting “construction of modern market for agricultural products” in Pristina, consortium “Andmeters” S. P.K for profit of grants “Building of the fertilizer factory” (not being at all on the list of projects that cover with financing through grants), concorium “DOO Zubin Potok” for profit of “The investment building project in the storage and storage facility of”, as well as the consortium NTP “Arena Engineering” in Pec, for winning grants “production and processing of meat” in Pec, with the intent to act contrary to Law 04/ L-090 for changing and completing the 03/03 Law L-098 for Agriculture and Rural Development Article 5.1, Article 8, Article 13 paragraph 1.2, Article 4, Article 14.2 The 03/L098 Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, Article 8 and 9, regulations ( QRK) No. 37/2013, Article 7.1, paragraph 1.1, Guide and Doracak for drafting the concept of documents from the Prime Minister's Office.

It is said that they have done so that defendant Nenad Ricalo, in the quality of the ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, has thus surpassed his competencies, drafted a special “program, without a separate budget for this project, has set out on criteria, has defined regions for funding, the amount of grants, while bypassing the regular procedures for drafting the programme, which was the competence of the Rual Development Policy Department in the MBPHR by setting up between regular measures, with March 26th, with a decision issued by 20th. ref. KM 91/18 for drafting new policies for further development of rural infrastructure and establishing competition in less developed rural areas, with the programme being handed over to itself, while the commission was formed only formally.

On the other hand, defendant Kaplan Halimi, in the quality of the secretary-general in the ministry, has reportedly exceeded his competencies, so that he has illegally issued the verdict by ref.n. The ZSP 266/18 to illegally enable the companies mentioned, appoints the working group of 11 members to prepare investments in rural infrastructure, knowing that this group is not competent and has no knowledge of the drafting of this programme, until it was aware that this group was only formal, given that the draft was delivered by Minister Rikalo himself.

According to the indictment, defendant Shefki Zeqiri, in the quality of the official person in the ministry, during 2018, acting illegally, has drafted and approved the 09-2018 Administrative Guide for implementing the special program “Rourons less developed”, even though he had known that this program had been drafted in opposition to the 04/ L-090 for changing and completing the 03/03 Law L-098 for Agriculture and Rural Development and Adjust (QKR) No. 37/2013, bypassing regular procedures to draft the particular programme that is the competence of the MBPHR Department of Rural Development Policy.

While, according to the prosecution, defendant Ekrem Gjona, in the quality of the official person, the duty of the chief chief of the AZHB, has illegally made the decision ref.nr. ZHB-07/4/042018 for the formation of the task force, which the group will do administrative control, assessment, approval and contracting projects of rural infrastructure mass, compounded by Lindar Krasniqi, Shzen Morina, Albana Zeqiri and Leon Thaci, while bypassing the fact that this team should be formed by the director, monitored by the director, and this group reported to the Director of the Directorate for Procedure and Rural Development's permission, so the defendant Gjena Zeqiri and Leon Thaci acted in a way that allows companies to be so-called in a way of law against the president, because it was handeding over to the group, while acting in this way of Kosovo's budget in a significant amount.

According to the indictment, accused Shkelzen Morina, Leon Thaci, Linder Krasniqi and Albana Zeqi, on August 14th 2018, co-operated in the quality of officials near the MBPZHR, acting illegally, in order to provide illegal benefits to Albana Zeqi on August 14th, have been awarded the winning consortium “Novus” shp.k for the winning of the grant “The modern agricultural market construction”, in Pristina, the winner has declared the consortium <x> and <x> > DOO Zubin Potok”, for winning the promotion “Project for the building of investments in the storage and storage facility”, has declared the NTP consortium “Arena Enineering” winner for winning grants “The production and processing of meat”, in Pec, who have failed to meet the legal conditions set out with the 09-2018 Administrative Guide to implement the particular program “rural areas less developed”.