2 minutes agoInvestigation and Debate Over Army Property
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Charges have been filed in Albania concerning several armed forces' properties by former naval leader Arthur Mecholari. In two indictments deposited by him in the Special Prosecution, officials and former senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and Army have reportedly abused the post. He says they have allowed [...]
The Voice of America confronted his claims with those of state institutions and brings in the following material.
Albania's Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecutor has launched preliminary investigations into two criminal allegations made in March and April 2021 by Arthur Mecholar, former senior leader of the sea force. These include current officials and former senior defence ministry officials, Army General Staff, Marine Force and Military Police. In an interview with Voice of America, Mr. Mecholar accuses them of misusing their duty in connection with two private activities allowed in property in the Plan of Determination and Proliferation, as sea forces are known. (These properties are part of the Marine Force's operational structure and requirements) Any changes to these properties are made with the defence minister's proposal and approved by the president. Mr. Mecholar, in his two stories, says the changes in the plan were made without the President's approval.
The one indictment is for abuse of duty in terms of renting the entire Saranda naval base, leaving not a single square metre for marine force, and the second is for the Sangjini naval base, where it is built within the property that is located in the deployment and distribution plan of the Sea Force, which is fundamentally prohibited by law”, told American Voice Arthur Mechollari, former Z. Commander of the Marine Force.
According to the Ministry of Finance and Economics' data on the rent of the naval base in the Bay of Limon Sarande, it results in the Council of Ministers' number 514 decision, providing approval for the lease contract to 1 euro/constratation between the Ministry of Finance and Economy, as tenant, and the union of societies “Concance Investment” shpk. and “Castra Group” sh.a., represented by society “Marina Bay Saranda” shpk, as tenants, for state wealth with a total surface of about 265 thousand square meters. Within this territory lies an area of some 39,000 square feet [39,000 sq m] with a total of 696, which, according to Lord Mecholar, is part of the deployment and expansion plan for which the president of the Republic should first be approved. In the draft contract the Voice of America secured through the Ministry of Finance and Economy, in addition to the exercise of tourism activity for 20 years, it is forecasted and built by the tenant society, a bank for marine forces in Limion Bay in Saranda. Former Chief Director of the Marine Force Arthur Mecholari says that at the time he was still in office, there was a proposal of naval force for the issue of the base, but has not been considered.
“Since the contractor side proposed building a new base “pro buono” for the armed forces, then the naval forces demanded that it be built smaller on the surface than the current one and the rest be rented. But it had to go for approval by the president of the Republic in the quality of Commander General of the Armed Forces. V KM No. 54 can't be a legal basis for renting the 39.446 square metre surface area, part of the deployment and spread plan”- told American Voice Arthur Mecholari, former Z. Commander of the Marine Force.
In response to the Voice of America's interest in the president of the Republic, in renting this military property, said that “The Republika President's institution has received no request from the Defence Minister to get out of the FBI's deployment and distribution plan. 696 (Asciable Marine Base, Limion, Saranda)” According to the Presidend office, this property, with its surface area of 39.446 m2, figures within the plan to deploy and spread the FA.
The president's response raises concern for the <x0);situal property within the plan to deploy and spread the FA -- as well as their changed status against law”.
The Voice of America addressed the Ministry of Defense about the legal base of renting property no. 696 area about 39,000 square feet [39,000 sq m] in the Gulf of Limion in Saranda. The official response is said to have been leased based on a Council of Ministers decision No. 54, 2014 that sets criteria and procedures for renting state assets.
The defence ministry further explains, “that the rental of the naval base at Limion Sarande is based on the KM's above decision, as the president is based on the approval of the spread plan does not predict the procedures of renting state property to the administration of the Ministry of Defence”.
The confrontation of two answers results in the defence ministry and the president of the Republic based on two different legal acts for renting property by no. 696, at Lymion naval base in Saranda.
Just the case of the former Z. Lymion. Marine Force Commander Arthur Mecholari has deposited and a second indictment in SPAK, regarding the construction of an object, from a private subject, to a duty force property, part of the distribution plan at the Sangjini naval base. Mr. Mecholari raises concern about how intensive work was allowed to take place for 4 months from November-March 2021, within a base guarded by armed guards.
My “Padia for Strygini includes abuse of duty for the head of the Armed Forces, Marine Force and Military Police, as in a 4-month period, from November 2020-March 2021, it has been knowingly allowed, building a 4-story object within the Marine Force's property in the deployment and spread plan. The property return and compensation law prohibits the return of property to the spread plan, approved by President” Arthur Mecholar, former Z. Commander of the Marine Force.
The Voice of America addressed the Ministry of Defence to learn how construction was allowed for four months of the 4 - story building on military property, part of the spread plan. “In response it is said that the Ministry of Defence has followed all legal procedures to prevent its construction, and that it has prosecuted institutions that have returned this property and provided construction permits”.
On Mr. Mecholari's two lawsuits, renting the Gulf of Lamion Saranda and building a private building at Strygen's base, touching it, the plan of deployment and spreading without the approval of the President of the Republic, the Voice of America addressed and the Prosecutor of the Task Against Corruption and Organised Crime, which confirmed that these indictments have initiated preliminary investigations and that there are no persons so far under investigation.
