TIRANA, Jan 5 /ATA/ The chairman of DP, Sali Berisha, presented himself today before the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) in compliance with the mandatory obligation to appear measure imposed by the Court of Appeals for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) in relation to the proceedings concerning the privatization of the former “Partizani” sports complex.
Berisha showed up at the SPAK offices at around 10:00. Outside the prosecution building, he stated that a factual allegation has been added against him, claiming that his children benefited from the privatization of residential apartments.
“For the record, the charges against Sali Berisha also include the fact that, following his election as President of the Republic of Albania in 1992 and his tenure in office until 1997, the citizens Malltezi—who at that time had no connection to the ‘Partizani’ case—are reported to have begun making investments to acquire rights over real estate properties.”
“According to the declarations submitted to the ILDKP, Argita Malltezi reported in her 1993 asset declaration ownership of only a single residential apartment of 77 square metres on Myzeqari Street, acquired through privatization, of which she holds a one-third share.”
“Additionally, Sali Berisha states that he owns a 3+1 privatized apartment, with co-ownership rights held by his spouse and son. He added, ‘Regarding this, my daughter and my son—according to the law—my daughter held a one-third share of the apartment at that time, as she was over 18, and the housing privatization law stipulated that children over 18 were entitled to benefit. Yet, this has been presented as a corruption allegation by the political prosecution,’” Berisha said.
According to Berisha, the prosecution draws conclusions that are not only disconnected from the facts but also illogical.
“For instance, the Special Prosecution, in an attempt to aggravate the circumstances—despite there being no criminal element—claims that after I was elected President in 1992 and remained in office until 1997, the Malltezi family began making investments to acquire rights over real estate. The Malltezis, like one million other Albanians, benefited from the privatization of apartments. At that time, neither of them was the head of a household; they were simply family members entitled to privatization under Law 7652,” Berisha said.
Berisha added that this constitutes a new element in the charges brought by former chief prosecutor of SPAK Altin Dumani.
In his statement, Berisha also revealed that he has taken the Court of Appeals’ “obligation to appear” measure to the Constitutional Court. According to Berisha, the Constitutional Court convened in a plenary session to review his case but did not deliver a ruling.
“The notification was issued after my lawyer submitted a request seeking clarification on the decision. However, when the votes did not go in their favor, they claimed that no session had taken place and that it would be held in a plenary meeting. These individuals were present during the plenary session. They have revealed themselves to be a disgraceful group, essentially an organisation of the Socialist Party, operating as a court of shame,” Berisha said.
Berisha also condemned the “police violence against the protest organised by ‘Shqipëria Bëhet’ and Adriatik Lapaj.”
“I condemned it in the strongest terms yesterday. A disgraceful act. Edi Rama is terrified of every protest, because each one reminds Albanians and the world that Ramaduro remains in power,” he stated.
When asked about the appointment of Klodian Braho as the new chief prosecutor of SPAK and the Democratic Party’s position, Berisha emphasized that the opposition will evaluate every leader or employee of judicial institutions based on their compliance with the law.
/m.q/r.e/a.f/sm/
