On Tuesday, the Special Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime altered the security measure for Jamarbër Malltezi from “Arrest in prison” to “House arrest”.
Meanwhile, the security measure for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha remains unchanged, as “Obligation to appear”.
Malltezi was apprehended on October 21 in connection with the privatization case involving the former “Partizani” sports complex.
Genc Gjokutaj, Berisha’s legal representative, deemed the case to be politically motivated.
“The court rendered the decision, endorsing Berisha’s part while modifying the measure for Malltezi. This matter persists as a political one. There is no risk of Berisha fleeing; he attends parliament twice a week, contrary to the prosecution’s request for every 1 to 2 weeks. This measure arises from an unconstitutional rationale. We have the next session on Thursday, and we will leverage all legal means. It will be a protracted battle. We intend to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court,” expressed Gjokutaj.
Sali Berisha and his son-in-law, Jamarbër Malltezi, face scrutiny for passive corruption related to the privatization of the former “Partizani” complex. Additionally, Fatmir Bektashi, the constructor of the apartment complex erected on the grounds of the former sports club, is also subject to investigation.
Charges against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his daughter’s husband, Jamarbër Malltezi were detailed by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), following Malltezi’s arrest on the evening of October 21, 2023.
SPAK stated that Berisha had undertaken specific actions as Prime Minister and took concrete actions to adapt legal procedures and sub-legal acts to favor five family owners within the “Partizani” sports complex, where his son-in-law was a direct beneficiary.
Investigators suspect criminal acts of passive and active corruption by high-ranking state officials in collaboration, as well as money laundering connected to criminal activity or organized crime in collaboration, during the privatization of the “Partizani” sports complex.
SPAK emphasized that Berisha actively exerted administrative control as Prime Minister to apply pressure and issued specific orders for the completion of privatization procedures, favoring Malltezi among others.
Additionally, SPAK declared that Berisha actively ensured the availability of various state administrative structures for Malltezi to facilitate the privatization of state property.
Regarding the “Partizani” sports complex case, SPAK arrested Jamarbër Malltezi at Rinas Airport on October 21.
Meanwhile Sali Berisha and Fatmir Bektashi as the contractor in the sports complex, have been prohibited from leaving the country.
The Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime in Tirana issued preventive seizures on various immovable properties of Malltezi, bank accounts, and founding capital shares in various companies.
Malltezi is suspected of passive corruption in collaboration with his father-in-law, Sali Berisha, exploiting his power as Prime Minister to profit from the privatization of lands and sports facilities, changing the zoning from sports to residential areas, substantial gains as an investor from “Homeplan” ltd without actual investment, and illegal gains.
While in collaboration with contractor Fatmir Bektashi, Malltezi is suspected of money laundering by posing as an investor in construction work on apartment buildings without evidence of investment. It includes financial actions, fragmented transactions, or cash transactions to hide the illegal origins and gain more than 5 million euros.
Bektashi is also suspected of active corruption involving high-ranking state officials in collaboration with Malltezi, providing him with substantial unlawful benefits for construction on sports lands.
They are suspected of laundering proceeds of criminal activities, concealing the true origins of Malltezi’s irregular monetary gains and presenting them as legitimate business income.
The 26,000-square-meter “Partizani” sports complex, owned by the military, was replaced within a few years by an apartment complex. Investigators suspect that passive and active corruption by Sali Berisha, Jamarbër Malltezi, and Fatmir Bektashi paved the way for this transformation.
