Berisha attacks SPAK, claims he will not appear in court

In the Special Court against Corruption and Crime in Albania (SPAK) hearings have been held against Jamarbe Malltez, the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. He has declared he will not appear in court.

Malltezi, who was arrested Saturday evening, was in the first session to be identified with the charge against him and the security measure “prison arrest” that has been imposed on him. However, the session was interrupted at the request of his lawyers, who took time to get acquainted with the subject.

He is charged with “passive corruption” and “money laundering” and investigating the privatisation of the sports complex “Partizan”.

The issue is suspected of passive corruption and former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha.

The SPAK announced that it has assigned Berisha the security measure “due to submit” as well as “halting out of state”.

Albania's former prime minister, Sali Berisha, was not part of the process Monday in the Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime, but was represented by his lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj.

That is because Berisha has refused to meet with judicial police officers, nor has he signed that a security measure has been scheduled for him.

According to Gjokutaj, there is a procedural stalemate, as he claims the security measure for former Prime Minister Berisha should be decided after permission is required from the Parliament, as it limits an MP's freedom.

Mr. Berisha has no court hearing, as the verdict has not been executed, as it is an illegal decision and as such cannot be accepted by Mr. Berisha. This is an irregular legal process, and at the moment Berisha has not received knowledge and this decision has not been executed, he is not part of this process. Now this procedural mess has to solve those who created it. They are unilateral prosecutorial decisions”, he said.

Berisha himself appeared before the media, repeating the stance that the accusations are political and groundless, while accusing the SPACE of serving the government led by Prime Minister Edi Rama. He stressed that he will not appear before the court, as he respects the country's Constitution.

Asked whether he will go to court if called, Berisha said the Constitution does not allow for restricting the MP's freedom.

“As long as the Constitution does not allow, restricting the MP's freedom, I am a man of law and will enforce the country's law. The constitution has superiority over all other laws. I can't take another stand. By order of Rama, they have behaved in the most shameful manner, bring cops here and there. I'm sure all opposition deputies will vote, I admit. But nobody forces me to break the” law, Berisha said.

In a statement delivered in 2020 to the SPAK by Taulant Balla, now interior minister, it is said that “according to land property agency data in question was the owner's, but past the state, and in 1940 they were damaged by the Italian government after our country was occupied by Italy. ”

The sports complex “Partizan”, with an area of 26 thousand square metres, was privatised in 2008, by that time was owned by the Ministry of Defence.

About 22 thousand square metres belonged to 64 heirs of five families of former superiors, among them Jamarber Malltezi, while another 4 thousand square metres were state property. At the end of the process of restoring this property, Jamarber Malltez managed to obtain 35 percent of all property, including the state land. According to the indictment handed down to the SPAK, this is done through the suspicious decisions of Sali Berisha's government. On that profitable area, Jamarber Malltezi along with his partner, Fatmir Bektash, have built several towers.

For these constructions, in the confession handed down to the Prosecutor, the source of income is noted. Several former defence and economic ministers from Berisha's then government have been summoned to the SPAK.

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and his family, including groom Jamarber Malltezi, have been declared unwanted persons (non grata) by the United States, under suspicions that they are involved in high corruption and violation of democracy.