The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime accepted SPAK’s request for the trial of the Tirana incinerator file. This process concerns 12 defendants, who are accused of the criminal offense of abuse of office.

Of the defendants, only three of them, specifically Silena Tola, Alba Thoma and Pëllumb Abeshi, have requested a shortened trial, while the others have requested trial in the usual procedure. This request will be examined in the next session by another judge.

On August 2, 2023, the Special Prosecutor’s Office announced the closure of the investigations for the 12 accused, who are suspected of having committed the criminal offense of abuse of office related to the construction and management of the Tirana incinerator.

In December 2023, the measures for this case went to trial, and the defendants include well-known figures, such as the former Minister of the Environment Lefter Koka, Pëllumb Abeshi, Erjon Murataj, Bledar Karoli, Taulant Tusha, Namik Simixhiu, Etleva Kondi, Alba Thoma, Valbona Ballgjini, Sidita Kopliku, Jetmir Llapaj and Silena Tola.

Meanwhile, for the incinerator of Tirana, former socialist deputy Alqi Blako, at the same time former general secretary of the Ministry of Environment, has separated himself, as he is being investigated for another charge, that of corruption.