The Prosecutor's File on Damca and Camberaj: How was the budget damaged over 1m euros by benefiting two NGOs without public calls?

The “Justice Vow” has secured a full indictment, in which at the first point it is said that Fikrim Damka and Besim Kamberaj from August 16th 2021 to March 24th 2022 in Pristina, in the quality of official persons- Damka in the position of Regional Development Minister, while defendant Camberaj in the quality of the secretary-in-chief of the ministry's duty, has exceeded their competencies, with the aim of benefiting rich for two NGOs: “Germin” and “Carias Zviceran<5> and violation of other persons' rights, Kosovo's Civil Society Organisations respectively.

According to the indictment, during June and July 2021, in Pristina, Damka and Camberaj acting contrary to the International Agreements and Orders Law for Administration responsibilities at the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministers and Finance Orders on the criteria, standards and public financing procedures of NGOs exceed their legal competencies, thus extending agreements with “ariasin Zviceran” in opposition to the responsibility and competencies of this ministry, respectively, by taking on responsibilities that occur in the competencies of the Ministry of Environment, Space and Infrastructuring <x>, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Ministers for the Commission.

It reportedly initially meets with the authorised representative of the NGO “Carias Zviceran” Gerald Schaumberger and negotiate the possibility of connecting a co-operation with him.

Then, the indictment says that the accused Camberaj in communication via e-mail with Kreshnik Basha- representative of “Caritan Zvicran”, aware of the defendant Fikrim Damka, draw up two concepts-documentals for two “Environmental Change of Youth -YENIEN” and <x4 Komunal Action for Reintegration and diaspora - MARDI”

In this concept- the document, according to the indictment, it says the project MARDI without a call included the NGO “Germin” in opposition to the MF rule, giving it a key role in implementing this project and treating it as NGO partner “Carias Zviceran”, without having any co-operation agreement with it.

Then, it is said that Damka and Kamberi, after drafting two concepts for the above-mentioned projects and draft of the Co-operation Memorandium, on 16 August 2021, sign the memorandum in question of the Law on International Accords and the Law on Public Finance Management and Responsibilities, creating direct budgetary implications, additional budgetary costs outside any approved budgetary line at the moment of the Memorandum connection.

And, reportedly on May 5th 2022, defendant Damka issues a decision on the separation of resources from the MZR budget from the Central Administration programme, worth 147,000 euros for co-finance of the <x0 project. YENI” and 200,000 euros for financing of project “M ARDI”, totaling 347,000 euros.

Always according to the indictment, after the signing of the previously mentioned memorandum, the defendants submit their request to the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transitions for transfer of tools and after remarks received from the latter, that these projects did not enter the category of capital investments, defendants to adapt the funding resources categories on March 24th 2022 signed “Ancits memorandum” and two fund sources, which are cross-mormormed to implement two projects <2x> YENI” and “M ARDI”.

Theakuza says accused Damka and Kamberi have acted contrary to the regulation for the criteria, standards and procedures of public financing, exceeding the limits of NGO financing from public funds, which is 1% of the total budgetary division under the code/bucketary programme for the corresponding fiscal year when the code programme is over 1m euros. Respectfully, financing for three years 2022, 2023, 2024 The most mentioned NGOs in the amount of 1m and 40 thousand euros.

With this, it is said that they have exceeded much allowed for a year and that these actions also violate the general principles of NGO funding, not calling for public appeal to select beneficial NGOs.

Thus, budgetary obligations reportedly have been introduced at the value of 1m and 40 thousand euros, signing anti-law agreements, which benefit “Caritasi Switzerland” and “Germin”, in which many damage the state budget of the Republic of Kosovo.

So with these actions, they are charged that in co-ordination they have carried out the criminal work “Using the official position or authority” by Article 414, paragraph 2 related to paragraph 1, related to Article 31, the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo.

The prosecution has demanded that the defendants be ordered to compensate the damaged party for the amount of 1m 40 thousand euros.

And so, The PSRK demanded that two indictees be pronounced the supplementary sentence - preventing the exercise of office in public administration or in public service.

Contacted by “Justice Trust”, Damka said they accepted the indictment yesterday, but he hasn't read it yet. However, he said he found himself innocent.

“Absolutely, innocent”, Damka said.

The “Justice Vow” has sent questions to Camberaj's address and once we are answered, the text will be completed.

The trial for this criminal case will be held near the Special Department of the Constitutional Court in Pristina.

Otherwise, against Damka and F.D., the Constitutional Prosecutor in Prizren on March 23rd 2025 has filed charges for “Attack”/Periscopi/