Albania: Former Health Minister Ilir Beqaj questioned

The Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Court in Albania decided on Monday, November 20th, to continue security measures against former health minister Ilir Beqaj.

The prosecution has raised doubts about <x0 use of duty” against the former health minister over the 10-year concession contract of sterilisation of surgical equipment.

Security measures to him have been set aside <x0). Also, the next measure to it is “preventing out of state”.

Both of these measures remained in force during the questioning of former Prime Minister Beqaj, under investigations into the contract worth 100m euros of “surgical equipment-sterilisation”.

After leaving the hearing, former minister Beqaj defended the contract he signed.

“in these eight years [of the contract's duration], 400 surgeons operate in contemporary conditions, Albanians are operated in sterile conditions, and in each operation they are spared hospital stays”, Beqaj said.

So far by investigating the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor (SPAK), he is the highest official under indictment for violations filed with the contract of public-private sterilisation partnership worth 100m euros, following the August arrest of businessman Ilir Rrapaj and his deputy in the Ministry of Health, Klondian Rrepaj.

SPAK investigations have uncovered violations in the concession-giving procedures, allegedly with the sole aim of declaring the winners of Ilir Rapuraj companies and Italian citizens Umbro Stachini.

The list of violations contains a feasibility study with false data contrary to the law; the drafting of criteria in such a way as to adapt the real situation of pre-elected companies, as well as Beqaj's inaction for resolving the conflict of interest between Deputy Prime Minister Klodian Rrepaj, as chairman of the concession commission, and Ilir Rrapaj as his beneficiary.

Legal violations have also been found during contract negotiations, which, according to the judge, were <x0 available in favour of the announced winning company, at the expense of state interests”.

Until the moment the SPAK announced it was investigating former minister, Ilir Beqaj, he was the head of the State Strategic Programme and Assistance Co-ordination Agency.

Beqaj announced that I leave this post “to ensure the integrity of the investigative process and avoid any possible misinterpretation of my influence as an official in this” process.

Beqaj did not make any announcement of his position as a member of the negotiating group for Albania's integration into the European Union, but the security measure “halting the exit from abroad” makes it impossible to exercise this task.

Ilir Beqaj was appointed minister of health in 2013, and during his four-year term three concession contracts have been signed for health system services. / REL/