Malltezi will now be subject to a financial bail condition of 3 million leke, the court ruled on Monday.

Malltezi, son-in-law of former PM Sali Berisha, criticized the earlier court rulings as politically motivated.

Malltezi was arrested at Rinas Airport in October 2023 and placed under house arrest in November 2023. He faces charges of passive corruption and money laundering, while Berisha is accused of using his position to illegally favor his son-in-law in the privatization process, causing financial harm to the state.

Berisha has dismissed the allegations as political.

Other defendants include businessmen Fatmir Bektashi, Xhimi Begeja, and Andia Pustina, as well as involved companies.

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Central bank governor faced questioning from lawmakers the Parliamentary Economic Committee concerning the abusive loan terms imposed by certain microcredit organizations on households.

Sejko said that the Bank of Albania had conducted regular inspection actions and in 2022 found out that MCA had failed to address a number of issues regarding the lending practices and loan terms.

“Central bank stepped up its measures against MCA by suspending its lending activities, including purchase of new loans, for which it had been licensed. In December 2023, BoA decided to revoke MCA[s license, “ Sejko said.

Bank governor said that the decision aims at protecting borrowers from the abusive lending practices and loan terms imposed on them,

Sejko explained that the Bank refrained from immediately halting MCA’s operations to maintain oversight and ensure proper reporting to the credit registry.

He emphasized that routine inspections had led to a threefold reduction in loan interest rates, now ranging between 50-60 percent, down from over 200 percent. According to him, updated interest rate figures would be available in June. Additionally, new measures had been implemented to cap client obligations at 30 percent of the loan amount.

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