The High Court argued that, “The court has reasoned correctly based on evidence that the suspect may have committed criminal offenses which are attributed to him by the prosecution. The court has also reasoned correctly about the conditions and criteria for imposing the security measure “prison arrest”, provided by Article 238 of the Criminal Code against the person under investigation Lefter Koka and why this personal security measure is the most appropriate and in accordance with the case under judgment”.

The High Court also dismissed Koka’s claims for an aggravated health conditions.

As above, the Panel concluded that the recourse filed by the applicant Lefter Koka against decision no. 01, dated 02.01.2022 of the Court of Appeals for Corruption and Organized Crime does not contain any of the reasons provided in Article 433 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; therefore as such it must not be accepted. Criminal College of the High Court, based on Articles 433 and 441/1 / a of the Code of Criminal Procedure; ruled: Rejection of the recourse filed by the applicant Lefter Koka against the decision of the Court of Appeals for Corruption and Organized Crime ”.

Ex-Minister Lefter Koka will remain in prison after the decision taken on March 31 by the High Court, which has rejected the recourse to be released from the security measure ‘prison arrest’ after accusations of the affair of 3.7 million Euros in the incinerator case of Elbasan. SPAK arrested former Environment Minister Lefter Koka charged with abuse of office, money laundering and corruption./p.s./

Former minister Koka was arrested on December 14 by order of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK).

Koka is charged with the criminal offenses of “Abuse of duty”, “Active corruption of senior state officials or local elected officials”, “Passive corruption of senior state officials or local elected officials” and “Elements of crime or criminal activity”. /a.a/p.s./

“Problems with justice are individual and as long as facing the justice continues, the person involved has nothing to do in the Socialist party. At the moment when justice demands accountability from one of us, he must get a lawyer and face justice,” said PM Rama.

The prime minister appreciated the projects for waste recycling plants as a success story.

“The criminal behavior of an individual has nothing to do with the fact that the project for the construction of these modern recycling plants has saved Elbasan, Tirana and has opened the way of salvation to Fier.

PM Rama said that all these investments are assets.

“Present-day Elbasan is a public asset. That investment has been made. Those installments that had to be paid have been settled and today it is the property of the municipality of Elbasan. It is a success of the government, because today Elbasan, Tirana and Fieri no longer have the anxiety that tomorrow the garbage will be burned”, said Rama.

Regarding the garbage recycling plant in Tirana, PM Rama explained that the government gives only partial support to the municipality and that it is the municipality that pays back the investment.

“Investment is present there and garbage no longer goes through rivers,” Rama said further.

Rama informed that following the tests, the work starts in the plant of Fier.

“This program is a success story,” said the prime minister. /a.a/p.s./

Lefter Koka’s lawyer Fatmir Braka spoke to reporters outside the doors of the Special Court, after the latter’s decision to uphold Koka’s arrest and leave him in prison.

Braka considered the process politically-motivated.

He argued that, “It is not normal for Lefter Koka to be a person under investigation because he has never been interrogated. I say, this process has been politically motivated. Today, I got to know that an appendix has been attached to the denouncement made by the Socialist Movement for Integration. I think it is the political moment that has influenced the case,” he said.

He added that it is not normal for a former minister, former MP, former mayor to be taken under surprise investigation and arrested when he has never been interrogated before. “In 5 days after the decision is published, we will make an appeal to the Court of Appeals”, said lawyer Braka./j.p/r.e/p.s./

Kim said that the actions of SPAK, especially this week, show that no one is above the law.

Kim stressed that justice reform is producing concrete results.

“SPAK actions, especially this week, show that no one is above the law. You can run, but you cannot hide from the law anymore. Justice reform is producing concrete results”, said Kim in her reaction./j.p/p.s./

In a statement to the media, Basha said that the arrest of former Minister Lefter Koka is another proof that proves the justice of the denunciations of the Democratic Party.

“There is no Albanian citizen to believe that this is a big fish. Everyone knows that 17 government decisions in a day could not be issued by a minister, whoever he is. The real names behind this affair, after this abuse of 400 million Euros are those of Edi Rama, Damian Gjiknur, Erion Veliaj, Klodian Mërtiri, Arben Ahmetaj and others “, said Basha.

Basha added that we cannot say that today is a day of triumph for justice. “It’s probably the beginning of a process, but it cannot end without answering questions about what to do with the heads of this affair, with the head of government who passed 17 government decisions within a day. Whose money was being laundered by Rama’s minister who was arrested today?” he added.

“This proves once again the significance of the investigative commission for incinerators,” he said.

Basha welcomed the decision of SPAK today, but demanded deepening of the investigation./j.p/r.e/p.s./

According to media sources, it is about the investigation launched on the issue of incinerators, as denounced by the Socialist Movement for Integration.

Lefter Koka has held the post of Minister of Environment from 2013-2017 as part of the Socialist Movement for Integration.

In the years 2003-2007, Lefter Koka served as mayor of Durrës, while since 2009 he has been a member of the Albanian Parliament under the banner of the Socialist Movement for Integration.

On September 1, 2021 Lefter Koka resigned from the mandate of the MP he won in the general elections of April 25 in Durrës. /j.p/p.s./