The mayor of Lushenje, Fatos Tushe was arrested following accusations of corruption and “abuse of office”.
Sources close to Euronews Albania have announced that Tushe was arrested during an operation undertaken following orders of SPAK (Special Structure Anti-Corruption),, where 10 other officials and former officials were also put in custody, namely: Flamur Peqini, Xhemal Hasko, Blerta Turuku, Ani Simoni, Andri Mushaj, Margarita Gjermeni, Bujar Murati, Ibrahim Lami, Xhemal Hasko and Gazment Çela.
These individuals are being accused of the following felonies: “Passive corruption of individuals in public functions”, “Violation of equality amongst representatives of tenders of public auctions,” “Abuse of power” and “Falsification of documents”.
Meanwhile, GJKKO has issued the security measures “prison arrest” for 7 individuals, amongst whom the mayor of Lushnje, whereas 4 others are currently placed on “house arrest”.
Euronews Albania journalist, Eni Ferhati reports that the investigations carried out by SPAK started several months ago and today, searches have been conducted in the residences of all those arrested, as well as the offices of the City Hall of Lushnje.
SPAK ordered this operation to investigate a tender of canalizations amounting to ALL 24 million or ~ € 200.000 euros, where authorities suspect abuse of public funds.
Who is Fatos Tushe?
Before his candidature for mayor of the city of Lushnje back in 2019, Tushe served as an MP for the county of Fier and member of the Socialist Party.
In addition, he has also been a member of the Commission of Production, Trade and the Environment.
Tushe graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, getting a degree in Machinery in 1994 and after he continued his studies at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana (2009).
He has been the mayor of Lushnje from 2007-2009, and regained his mandate as a member of parliament until 2011, after which he resigned and ran for Lushnja’s mayor during the local elections of 2011.
On December 31st 2019, Lushnje’s mayor and his secretary remained injured after his former personal driver threw a hand grenade in the office.
At the time, the police offered a sum of ALL 1 million or € 10.000 euros for anyone that gave valuable information on the whereabouts of Gëzim Saraçi.
