Arben Year's employment in Olive Lab is illegal

The first suspicions are that the employment of the Year as manager at that private institution conflicts with the law.

By “The Law to Prevent Conflict of Interest”, senior public official forbidden to be employed for a period up to two years After completing the public function, in leadership or management positions, in public and private institutions and their subordinate institutions that have business relations with the institution where it has exercised public office, whether its duties during the two-year period before the completion of public office were directly related to their supervision, control or sanctioning their activity.

On Tuesday 24 May, Periscope has sent questions to the Anti-Corruption Agency -- AKK, regarding whether a minister who left his job in the ministry a few months ago could be employed at a private company - the same industry with what he did until a few months ago at the ministry... The AKK has not returned answers so far.

We remember that the lab “Olive” was licensed for PCR tests by the Health Ministry at the time the minister was Arbe Vitita.

This issue has been laid out today in the Kosovo Assembly by deputy PDK, Bekim Haxhiu, who has sought to know whether the former minister's employment constitutes conflict of interest.

Health Minister Rifat Latifi appeared in the speaker and defended former minister of Albin Kurti.

It's obvious that this question is out of my context to answer. If it's a violation of the Law, the corresponding organs will handle it. But every citizen has the right to work where he wants, whether in the private sector or in public, Latifi said.

What the law says

No. 06/L -011 for the prevention of conflict of interest in the exercise of public office, Pope IV speaks of restrictions following public duty.

Article 18 High Official Restrictions After Finishing Public Task

1. High office not right: 1.1. to be employed or appointed, for a period of up to two (2) years after the end of public office, in leadership or management positions, or to be included in control or auditing of public and private institutions and their subordinate institutions that have business dealings with the institution where it has exercised public office, whether its duties during the two-year period before the end of the exercise of public office have been directly linked to oversight, control or sanction of their activity;

1.2. to be involved in contractual relations, directly or through someone close or trusted, with the institution where it has exercised public office for a period of up to two (2) years after the end of the public function;

1.3. to represent, assist, or advise any physical or legal person, directly or through someone close to or trusted, in a conflict or business relationship with the institution, in the task he has performed, or in the course of it over a period of up to two (2) years after the end of public function; and

1.4. use the privileged or confidential information provided during the exercise of public office for purposes and other employment in the future for its own private interest or a relative or trusted over a period of up to two (2) years after the end of public office.

The institution in which the top official has exercised public office cannot do business until one year from completing the public post with the subject in which the former official, the close person with him or the trusted person has a share of no less than five percent (5%) in the rights of founders, management or capital, as with direct participation or participation of other legal persons.

“Olive” is one of the largest labs in Kosovo that has flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic period, when much of the health minister was Arben Vitita, respectively, during the government's mandate “Kurti1x3> and “Curti 2”. Vitia had resigned from the position of Health Minister in last autumn when she joined the VV candidate for Pristina chairman. /Periscopi/