Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crimes has sentenced to life imprisonment Redjan Rraja, who is one of the suspected perpetrators of the assassination of prosecutor Arjan Ndoji.
Meanwhile, Arjol Halilaj, who is accused of being an accomplice of Rraja in the assassination, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Redjan Rraja, was arrested as one of the suspected perpetrators of the assassination of prosecutor Arjan Ndoji, his driver, Andi Maloku, and Aleksandër Lahos alias Pëllumb Muharremit, also known as “Rrumi” of Shijak. He is charged with the criminal offenses of “murder of public officials”, “attempted murder” and “arms possession without a permit”.
He was arrested in Shkodër, at the border point of Hani Hotit, in an attempt to leave for Montenegro, after he was discovered by the fingerprints on the vehicle found by the police after the assassination.
Special Court decision:
The guilty plea of the defendant Redjan Rraja for the criminal offense “Theft”, committed in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by articles 134, first paragraph, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 7 (seven) years of imprisonment.
1.1 The guilty plea of the defendant Redjan Rraja for the criminal offense “Unauthorized possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition”, carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided by articles 278, first paragraph, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 11 (eleven) years of imprisonment.
1.2 The guilty plea of the defendant Redjan Rraja for the criminal offense “Unauthorized possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition”, carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by articles 278, third paragraph, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 6 (six) years of imprisonment.
1.3 The guilty plea of the defendant Redjan Rraja for the criminal offense “Murder of public officials”, pending, to the detriment of the victim Arjan Ndoja, carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided by articles 79/a and 22, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 2 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 35 (thirty-five) years of imprisonment.
1.4 The guilty plea of the defendant Redjan Rraja for the criminal offense “Murder in other qualifying circumstances” resulting in the death of the citizen Andi Maloku and remaining in the attempt to harm the victim Aleksandër Laho (Pëllumb Muharremi), carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by articles 79, letter “dh”, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 2 of the Criminal Code and the punishment of him with life imprisonment.
1.5 The guilty declaration of the defendant Redjan Rraja for the criminal offense “Structured criminal group” in the form of participation, provided by article 333/a, second paragraph of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 4 (four) years of imprisonment.
1.6 In application of Article 55, first paragraph of the Criminal Code, the combination of sentences and the final sentence of the defendant Redjan Rraja with life imprisonment.
1.7 In support of Article 15, 16 point 1, letter a) of Law No. 81/2020 “On the rights and treatment of those sentenced to imprisonment and pre-trial detention”, the defendant Redjan Rraja, to serve this sentence in a High Security Institution.
- The guilty plea of the defendant Ariol Halilaj for the criminal offense “Theft”, committed in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided by articles 134, first paragraph, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 5 (five) years and 6 (six) months of imprisonment.
2.1 The guilty plea of the defendant Ariol Halilaj for the criminal offense “Unauthorized possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition”, carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by articles 278, first paragraph, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 10 (ten) years of imprisonment.
2.2 The guilty plea of the defendant Ariol Halilaj for the criminal offense “Unauthorized possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition”, carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by articles 278, third paragraph, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 1 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 6 (six) years of imprisonment.
2.3 The guilty plea of the defendant Ariol Halilaj for the criminal offense “Murder of public officials”, pending, to the detriment of the victim Arjan Ndoja, carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided by articles 79/a and 22, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 2 of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 30 (thirty) years of imprisonment.
2.4 The guilty plea of the defendant Ariol Halilaj for the criminal offense “Murder in other qualifying circumstances” resulting in the death of the citizen Andi Maloku and remaining in the attempt to harm the victim Aleksandër Laho (Pëllumb Muharremi), carried out in cooperation, in the form of a structured criminal group, provided for by articles 79, letter “dh”, in relation to articles 28, point 4 and 334, point 2 of the Criminal Code and the punishment of him with 35 (thirty-five) years of imprisonment.
2.5 The guilty declaration of the defendant Ariol Halilaj for the criminal offense “Structured criminal group” in the form of participation, provided by article 333/a, second paragraph of the Criminal Code and his sentence of 2 (two) years of imprisonment.
2.6 In application of Article 55, first paragraph of the Criminal Code, the combination of sentences and the final sentence of the defendant Ariol Halilaj with 35 (thirty-five) years of imprisonment.
2.7 The serving of the sentence for the defendant Ariol Halilaj will start from the date of execution of the security measure “arrest in prison”, determined by decision no. 46, date 05.05.2020 of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime.
2.8 In support of Article 15, 16 point 1, letter a) of Law No. 81/2020 “On the rights and treatment of those sentenced to imprisonment and pre-trial detention”, the defendant Ariol Halilaj should serve this sentence in a High Security Institution.
- Based on Article 190 of the Criminal Code, related to the material evidence seized during the investigations, combined with the trial file according to the order “On the merging of items and material evidence with the judicial file”, dated 22.01.2021, as well as all the material evidence seized according to the relevant minutes, the court disposes of their preservation for the sake of the criminal proceedings under No. 184/1, year 2021 of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime.
Procedural costs incurred during the investigation phase (according to the relevant form), as well as court costs according to the attached form, are jointly and severally charged to the defendants.
An appeal against this decision is allowed within 15 (fifteen) days, in the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, starting from the day after the announcement of this decision.
It was announced in Tirana, today on 25.07.2023.
