Retrial session set in case known as “53-million-like”

The Constitutional Court in Pristina has set the date 14 May 2025 for launching the retrial in the case known as “53-millionshire against indictees Paul Lekaj, Eset Berisha, Negoti Shatri and Tahiri, accused of misuse of duty regarding the “Arbon Xhaferi” highway.

Pal Lekaj, in the quality of the Ministry of Infrastructure Minister (MI), Eset Berisha, in the quality of his top political adviser, Nebih Shatri, as secretary-general in this ministry and Besim Tahiri, as director of Public Procurement in MI, is commissioned by the Prosecutor for misuse of official office in co-ordination.

The appointment of the retrial hearing has confirmed the “Justice Trust”, Mirlinda Gashi- spokeswoman of the Foundation Court in Pristina.

Subtitled to your request for information, we inform you that the trial hearing in the criminal case against P.L. indictees. etc. is set to be held on May 14, 2025, at 09,400x1>, said in response.

The Constitutional Court in Pristina on 31 January 2024 convicted them and sentenced them to 10 years and 3 months in prison (both): Paul Lekain, Eset Berisha, Negoti Shatrin and Besim Tahiri for the case known as “53-million-millionshire”.

According to the Foundation Act, Pal Lekaj was sentenced to three years and eight months in effective prison. To him, the court also pronounced additional condemnation, a ban on public office in public administration, or on public service during the length of 3 years and 6 months.

Praise Shatri was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, while Besim Tahir was sentenced to one year and 8 months in prison. They were also pronounced a complete sentence, a ban on public office in public administration, or on the public ministry for two years. While, Eset Berisha was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison.

Likewise, Berisha's subsequent sentence was issued, either to the ban on public office in public administration or to the public ministry for three years.

But the Court of Appeals has turned the case against Paul Lekaj, Eset Berisha, Negoti Shatri and Besim Tahiri into retrial,

The “Justice Vow” had reported on the content of the full decision compiled by the Foundation in Pristina, publishing the tribunal's findings from the protection of the accused and findings by witness statements. And so is Apel's findings.

According to the indictment filed on 4 February 2022 by the Special Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo, Paul Lekaj, in the quality of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MI), Eset Berisha, his top political adviser, Nebis Shatri, as secretary-general in this ministry, in co-operation and deliberately and even with defendant Besim Tahiri, director of Public Procurement in MI, are accused of misusing official office with the case of sharing 53m euros for the consortium <x1Betel &Enka <2>>, for construction of the Pristina highway Hani Elez or otherwise known as the <x> Arferi> X4fer> /Betimitor Directorate