The Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has uncovered new details regarding the investigations that led to the arrest of former minister of environment, Lefter Koka.<\/p>\n
The investigation is linked to Elbasan\u2019s incinerator project. SPAK is accusing Koka of embezzling well over \u20ac3.6 million euros through the two companies that own the concession and were responsible for the construction work.<\/p>\n
According to SPAK, one of the companies that won the concession, \u2018Albtek Energy\u2019 sh.p.k \u201cwasn\u2019t subjugated to any of the preparatory phases\u201d and that \u201cnone of the rules foreseen by the law were followed during the concession race\u201d.<\/p>\n
The minister of environment was the authority, who was responsible at the time, for overseeing the procurement and distribution of public funds, as well as the one responsible for organizing the entire concession process in compliance with the law.<\/p>\n
SPAK also reports that the two companies involved, both \u2018Albtek Energy\u2019 and \u2018Integrated Technology Services\u2019 have both made payments to secondary companies about services that were never executed.<\/p>\n
The Prosecution also accused Koka of receiving two payments from these two companies \u2013 one for \u20ac2.95 million euros and another for \u20ac735 thousand euros \u2013 with the purpose of favoring them in the concession race.<\/p>\n
The former minister was able to receive this money from Albtek Energy and Integrate Technology Services, by setting up a fictive scheme that was meant to make them appear like they were subcontractors hiring other secondary companies \u2013 owned by Koka\u2019s family members or other acquaintances \u2013 to conduct work related to the construction of the Elbasan incinerator, which was never actually seen through to completion.<\/p>\n
Koka is being charged with corruption, abusing his office and money laundering whereas the two administrators of the above-mentioned companies, Stela Gugalli and Klodian Zoto suffer charges of corruption of high-ranking state officials and money laundering. Several other subjects are also under investigation.<\/p>\n
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