TIRANA, February 1 /ATA/ The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime rejected today the request of Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj to change the security measure of prison arrest with an obligation to report himself to the officer of the law.
Veliaj’s request was reviewed by Judge Etleva Deda and the mayor himself was present during the session.
After the session ended, lawyer Sokrat Gjermeni stated that the mayor’s request also carried options like wealth guarantee or a ban on leaving the country.
According to him, the prosecution maintained the stance of keeping in force the measure of arrest in prison because evidence can be manipulated.
“But, the investigation process has been completed and the file has been sent to court. The evidence, especially the evidence in writing, cannot be manipulated”, argued Gjermeni.
According to SPAK, Veliaj faces 13 charges such as passive corruption in 9 cases, money laundering, failure to declare assets, abuse of office and bringing items into prison. His wife Ajola Xoxa has also been sent for trial. Veliaj has been in prison for almost a year. He was arrested on February 10, 2025. /m.q/j.p/p.s./
