Flash News

Video/ Revolt in Corfu prison, Albanians and Georgians set fire to cells

Accident at "Shkalla e Tujanit" in Tirana, a car overturns after the collision

KPA dismisses Tirana judge Ardiana Bera from office

Don't lose face/ After Rama's 'threat', SP candidates withdraw request from CEC

VIDEO/ The assassination in Durrës, the moment of the murder of 29-year-old Ermir Dedja

E-TJERA

Albanian politician in Belgium appeared on Sky ECC's talk show, arrested but released on bail

Politiko 2025-03-29 19:34:02

Albanian politician in Belgium appeared on Sky ECC's talk show, arrested

Former mayor of the municipality of Mortsel in Belgium, Amarildo Vllazeria, who was arrested on Tuesday for questioning in an investigation into a drug gang, denies through his lawyer that he was involved in any criminal offense.

He was released on bail after questioning, although the public prosecution says there are serious indications of guilt.

The arrest came as part of an investigation launched after hacked messages from the infamous Sky ECC platform, local media reported.

The targeted gang is known to have been involved in the import and export of drugs as well as their transportation in the period 2020-2021.

A house search was also conducted near the town of Mortsel. The former mayor was not re-elected this legislative term, but was to be sworn in as a municipal councilor on Tuesday evening for a few months, replacing a party colleague.

This did not happen because of the arrest.

"The fact that he has possessed for a short period of time, for understandable professional reasons, an account that is considered suspicious in the context of a broader investigation, can in no way be considered a criminal offense," his lawyer Jan Swennen responded.

His client is "cooperating fully with the investigation and awaits its results with confidence." Swennen states that reporting in certain media outlets has violated his client's presumption of innocence.

"My client has never abused any political mandate, which he has always carried out with honor," she added. "My client hopes that the judicial investigation will be concluded with the necessary urgency, so that any doubts can be put to rest," he said. 

Latest news