The Supreme Court of Albania has declared incompetence in regards to the reopening of the case pending against the former Defence Minister, Fatmir Mediu.
The Court decided to return the case to the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime also known as GJKKO.
Three weeks ago, the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) asked the Supreme Court to start legal proceedings against the former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu regarding the massive explosion at the ammunition disassembling depot of Gerdec in 2009, a request, which was overturned by the Supreme Court.
It’s worth mentioning that back in 2009, investigations into Mediu were closed because of his immunity at the time as MP of the Albanian Parliament.
Changes in legislation during 2012 and 2017 have affected the parliamentary immunity of those elected as MPs, especially regarding their possible criminal prosecution, investigation and sentencing and SPAK’s request to reopen investigations for Mediu, was based precisely on these changes.
Zamira Durdaj, who lost her son in the explosion, filed charges at SPAK against the former defense minister, Fatmir Mediu. According to her, the “Gerdec” case has been investigated by a “criminal gang”, which is why she is asking for justice to be restored.
“The entire case needs to be reopened because it hasn’t been dealt with as a case involving corruption. In all court instances it was investigated by a criminal gang, which is why the whole case file should be reopened,” stated Durdaj, during an interview with Euronews Albania.
In turn, the current Chair of the Republican Party and former minister of defense, Fatmir Mediu has given his take on this story saying that it has a political motivation. According to him, all deadlines have been passed and SPAK’s current behavior raises many suspicions”.
The explosion at the ammunition depot in Gerdec, caused the death of 26 people and the serious injury of around 200 others.
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