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SPAK file: Erion Veliaj intimidated BKH agents with messages, Ajola Xoxa intimidated witnesses

Politiko 2025-02-11 15:54:49

SPAK file: Erion Veliaj intimidated BKH agents with messages, Ajola Xoxa

In the 366-page SPAK investigative file on the arrested mayor of Tirana, it appears that Erion Veliaj and his wife attempted to destroy evidence and obstruct the work of agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The Special Prosecution Office has concluded that in Veliaj's case there is a "risk of evidence poisoning" and the process being slowed down or improperly diverted due to the public office he holds, but also due to his behavior in relation to BKH agents.

SPAK finds that the mayor of Tirana has sent intimidating messages of a strong nature to the BKH agents who were handling his case.

"In this sense, taking into account the environment where the citizens under investigation live, the public function exercised by citizen Erion Veliaj, the numerous acquaintances, the connections secured and the very strong influence that stems from the exercise of this function, the importance of which increases exponentially given the territory it covers and the public funds administered by the Municipality of Tirana, as the largest Municipality in the country, assessing the behavior displayed by the citizen under investigation Erion Veliaj himself while sending messages of a strongly intimidating nature towards the BKH investigators, whom he openly asks to stop calling his wife to give statements, the presence of one of the mayors of the Municipality of Tirana during the meetings held by the latter's wife with the persons summoned by the proceeding body, as well as during the control exercised by the BKH investigators, as well as taking into account the behavior of citizen Ajola Xoxa, especially after the controls exercised according to the decision of the Court of Appeals." "The Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, the proceeding body has concluded that there is a real risk that some evidence will not be obtained or will be obtained in a 'poisoned' form," the SPAK investigative file states.

SPAK further underlines that this risk has proven to be tangible throughout the preliminary investigation, especially in relation to the persons who have been called to make statements to SPAK, but also with the behavior that Veliaj and Xoxa have displayed during this period.

"In the circumstances where the citizen under investigation Erion Veliaj is proven to have sent written messages to the address of the investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation, messages that seem to have the intention of intimidating these officials during the performance of their duties, it can be easily imagined how this citizen could then behave with potential witnesses in this process, that is, with the evidence that is required to be obtained by the proceeding body. Also, the presence of important employees of the Tirana municipality, direct subordinates of the citizen Erion Veliaj, both during the contacts that the citizen Ajola Xoxa had with the persons summoned to give statements at the Special Prosecution Office, as well as during the moments of control in the offices of "Partners Law" shpk, proves the intention to jeopardize the obtaining of evidence, but on the other hand also the mixing of public and private functions of the head of the municipality, by asking the persons who depend on him to have unauthorized contacts with investigators in the course of their duties. On the other hand, given that the main part of the criminal investigation is focused on activities related to the Municipality of Tirana, it is clear that the possibility of jeopardizing the obtaining of necessary evidence from the offices of this institution is tangible, since by its very hierarchical nature, subordinate persons in their functions may be intimidated by the citizen under investigation.”

Meanwhile, the GJKKO considers that there is irrefutable evidence that most of the declarants summoned by the Special Prosecution Office were contacted before and after the interrogation sessions by the wife of the mayor of Tirana, Ajola Xoxa.

"This situation is even more serious if we consider the suspicions of committing actions that hinder the discovery of the truth. A large part of the declarants have claimed that they were contacted by the state Ajola Xoxa and were even summoned by her, giving them guidance on how to behave before the proceeding body," the investigative file highlights./ Syri TV