SPAK today filed charges against eight people suspected of being part of a criminal group that predetermined the winners of tenders at AKSHI, which included the director of the institution and several businessmen. At the request of SPAK, the Special Court approved the measure of “house arrest” for the director of AKSHI, Arlinda Karçanaj, and the measures of “prison arrest” for businessmen Ergys Agasi and Ermal Beqiri. SPAK also identified Erion Ismaili, the deputy director of the Tirana Police, as part of the criminal group, for whom the measure of “suspension from duty” and “ban on leaving the country” was imposed.
Meanwhile, journalist Anila Hoxha brought some new details regarding this issue to the "Top Story" show tonight.
The journalist revealed that SPAK prosecutor Elvin Gokaj had the file for the AKSHI, but the latter suddenly resigned and the file was then taken over by prosecutor Bledar Maksuti, while emphasizing that the criminal offenses are serious.
"More than ever, transparency needs to be made about the AKSHI file. We have had two prosecutors on the case, on one side was Elvin Gokaj. The criminal offenses are strong. Until the summer, Elvin Gokaj was in charge, and he suddenly stopped the investigation, according to my sources. And the file was passed to Bledar Maksuti. There is no transparency about this ," said journalist Hoxha in Top Story.
Meanwhile, according to SPAK, the suspects, within the framework of the structured criminal group, have committed illegal actions by determining specific criteria not specified in the law, to favor some companies over others. The investigation has revealed that businessmen Agasi and Beqiri and police officer Ismaili have also used hostage-taking and violence to avoid competing companies, which could become an obstacle in the tender procedures.
SPAK announced that the suspects forced representatives of companies participating in tenders to drop complaints about certain tender procedures, thus paving the way for predetermined companies, for which the review of the complaint could also lead to a change in the ranking of the winners.
BKH agents conducted searches today at the suspects' homes in "Kodra e Diellit" and other commercial premises, where they seized documentation and electronic equipment.