Veliaj in prison, the court's decision and the reasoning for refusing the mayor's release are revealed

The person under investigation, Erjon Veliaj, is still in office as Mayor of Tirana and has the power to influence his subordinates, to destroy or distort the content of various documents that could serve as sources of evidence, as well as to influence various persons, subordinates or not, not to provide valuable statements before the proceeding body or to distort the content of these statements.

This is one of the arguments of the special appeals judge, Mr. Engert Pëllumbi, in the decision that was made public and confirmed in the second instance the arrest in prison of Mayor Erjon Veliaj, suspected of corruption in nine cases and money laundering. 

The decision was distributed to the mayor's lawyers this Tuesday, and there, as explained in the documents that TCH exclusively has, the court also refers to the official's behavior while he was arrested, where he made calls from the prison's internal number.

And that, according to subsequent SPAK reviews, is considered a risk of evidence poisoning. However, it is further added, the court notes that there is also a risk of flight and that of committing other crimes of the same type as those for which he is being prosecuted.

Another risk is considered to be the threat of the investigation team. Regarding the risk of influencing justice when the investigated person is a high-ranking official, the appeals court refers to a decision of the European Court of Justice in the case Podeski v. San Marino, which sets a precedent of strong ties between supporters.

So, the position of the person being investigated, says the appeal in Albania, is valued "the more powerful the person is, the greater the potential to undermine the investigation or exert inappropriate pressure."

Regarding the suspicions of the suspect's escape, appeals judge Engert Pëllumbi states that the financial capabilities of the suspect are assessed in harmony with his numerous movements, also confirmed by the TIMS system, and due to the crimes for which he is being investigated, the court concludes that this risk is eminent and at high levels.

This conclusion is not even relativized by the fact that the person under investigation is the head of a family and the father of a minor child, the judge further adds. The judge also points to another risk, that of recidivism.

Immediately after the decision is made public, the lawyers will appeal to the Supreme Court. Top Channel 

 

 

Top Channel