Witness testimony still being banned in case of corruption trial against former MI secretary

At the session, held on April 22nd 2022, the court had approved special prosecutor Habibe Salihu's proposal to prevent the publication of the testimony until the completion of the hearing of all witnesses proposed in the case, reports the “Justice Vowtim”.

Three witnesses proposed by the prosecution were heard at today's session, and the next hearings on the case were assigned on September 26 and September 30, 2022.

According to the indictment filed by the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo on February 15th 2021, Recica is charged that in the quality of the task of Public Procurement Director in the Ministry of Infrastructure during 2017, with the aim of financial benefit for the “Gjoka Kondrollion” from Tirana, it exerted direct influence on Isa Berisha, chairman of the Revalue Commission and Leonora Limatin of Mirdi, members of this commission, who were subordinates, putting pressure on the reconstruction of the Autonder for the 10-day construction of the Gulf.

Always in accordance with the indictment, accused Recica had asked the members of this commission to go to the meeting with Minister Paul Lekaj, and then to announce the winner to the economic operator “Gjoka Constructuringon” even though he did not meet the tender criteria better than OE & The GP& “Papenburg Adrian “, which recommended the Reevaluating Commission, which for the sum of 1 million and 630 thousand and 487 euros had offered lower price than “Gjoka Kondimion”, with which many damaged the Kosovo budget.

With these actions, The PSRK charges accused Recica that he has committed criminal work “The exercise of influence”, from Article 431, par.1 of the Criminal Code, which is fined and sentenced to prison for up to eight years.

In accordance with the indictment, Recica on October 2, 2019, in the quality of the secretary general in the Ministry of Infrastructure, had made a decision in order to illegally make financial compensation (as of salary) for 14 officials of this ministry, even though the same were engaged in regular official duties, damaging the Kosovo Republic of Kosovo budget at much of 9,049 euros.

At this point in the indictment, the allegations on Recica weighing charges that in the quality of the secretary general in the Ministry of Infrastructure, by exploiting office or official authority have exceeded his competencies, in order to benefit any benefit from the other person by making two illegal decisions in order to make financial compensation for two officials engaged in the Commissions for the realisation of capital projects in MISen Merovci and Ardian Begaj.

According to the accusation, with the decision issued by Recica on June 11th 2019, MI official Hysen Merovci was compensated for 800 euros, while Ardian Begaj, worth 600 euros, retroactively since June 7th 2018, with what cases these two officials obtained illegally from 8 thousand and 838 euros, and for that the Kosovo Republic budget has been damaged.

While, the indictment says that with the decision issued by Recica on August 14th 2019, illegally the two MI officials -- Hysen Merovci and Ardian Begaj -- have been financially compensated with additional salaries, beginning with the founding of the labour relationship -- that is, for Merovcin since May 2010, when the same one has been employed and for Begaj since the beginning of 2010, when he has also been employed, damaging the Kosovo Republic's budget to many of 68 thousand and 500 euros.

With these actions, Recica is tasked with using the official position or authority “, by Article 414, par.1 concerning Article 77 of the Penal Code, which is sentenced to jail terms of one to eight years.

Recica is also charged with money laundering, he is accused of buying the financial tools that he had benefited from criminal activity, which was related to the above - mentioned deeds, in order for this illegal money to appear legal, during 2019 he bought the car “Audi F2 S7 Sportback”, which, with the aim of concealing the revenue created by criminal work, registered in the name of his brother, Becky Reca.

With these actions, the prosecution charges accused Recica with committing criminal work “Money laundering” by Article 308 of Penal Code, regarding Article 56, par. One, below. 1.1 of the Law on Prevention of Money Salvation and Terrorism Financing.

While accused Isa Berisha, Leonora Limani and Mirdi Emini are accused of P The SRK that Isa Berisha, in the quality of the MI Commission's re-evaluating chairman Leonora Limani and Mirdi Emini in the quality of the members of that commission, founded by the ministry's permanent secretary, on November 21, 2017, for re-evaluating the economic operators' bids submitted in the tender for construction of the Gjilan Autoway, have not met their official duties to announce the winners that offered the lowest price, which was the main criterion for announcing the winners.

Always according to the indictment, they are accused of having declared the winner for Lot I (one) the economic operator “Graniting” & “Armendi & EX” that had offered the price 18m and 468 thousand and 426 euros 58 cents rather than the economic operator “A L TRADE” KPS & “SA BALCH”, which had offered at the price of 16 million and 24 thousand and 128 euros and 28 cents, which was lowest for 2 million and 444 thousand and 298 euros and 38 cents, and then for Lot - II- (two) announced winner “GP&Pabraburg Ardiani”, not economic operator “2A group & Alcohol IMPEX&ex FIX&2T”, which had offered at the price of 4 million and 275 thousand and 806 euros and 22 cents, which was lowest for 1 million and 630 thousand and 487 euros and 45 cents.

Always according to the prosecution, accused Berisha, Limani and Emini, had declared the winner of the Lot IV (four) Economic Operator “2A GROUP” & “A LCO IMPEX” & “EX-FIX” & “2T”, which had offered at the price of 8 million 700 thousand and 127 euros and 36 cents, not the economic operator “P EV LAKU & “BA SE JOOS CRASNICI”, which had offered at the price of 7 million 784 thousand and 756 euros and 72 cents, which was lowest for 915 thousand and 370 euros and 64 cents, then for Lot VI (six) proclaimed winner “KAG A SPHALT & BENI COM” not economic operator “SA LAHU”, who had offered sufficient consistent evidence of DT requirements and contract announcement.

Also, for the high-ranking Lot VII (seven) indictees declared the winner “A L T RADE KPS” & “S A LOLICE” that had offered at the price of 7 million 247 thousand and 86m euros and 87 cents, not the economic operator “KAG ASPHALT” & “BENI COM” that had offered at 6 million and 147 thousand and 16 cents, which was lowest for 1 million and 99 thousand and 412 euros and 71 cents, then for Lot V. III (th) announced economic operator <x8 winner > NOOS CRASICE & PEVLAK” that had offered at the price of 11m and 913 thousand and 157 euros and 91 cents, not the economic operator “RSM COMPANY” & “B ENITA COMPANY<2 and 49x13>, which had offered at the price of 11 million and 571 thousand and 113 euros and 42 cents, which was lowest for 342 thousand and 44 euros and 49 euro cents, so that the total profit of economic operators was 88 million and 618 thousand and 511 euros and 95 cents, from which many of the Kosovo Republic's budgets were damaged for 6m and 200 thousand and 313 euros and 13 euro.

With these actions, accused Isa Berisha, Leonora Limani and Mirdi Emdi are charged with conducting criminal work “Using official duty or authority” by Article 422, par.1 concerning Article 31 of the Penal Code, which is sentenced to imprisonment of six months to five years.

Always according to the PSRK, Betim Recica is also charged that in the quality of the taskman that the director of Public Procurement in MI, with the aim of financial profit for the company “Gjoka Contrusion from Tirana, he has misused official office, exceeding the legally defined competency, in the manner that on November 21st 2017, has changed the re-evaluating Commission's report and OE “Gjoka Kondoloni<3> has declared responsible despite the fact that this has not met the legal operator for having declared you and that you have not met the <2 Group Alcohol IMPEX & EX FIS&2T” has offered at cheaper prices, with what he has damaged Kosovo's budget in many of the 1m 630 thousand and 48 euros and 45 cents.

With these actions, The PSRK charges accused Betim Recica that he committed criminal work “Use of official duty or authority” by Article 422, par.1 of the Penal Code, which is sentenced to imprisonment of six months to five years.