OPEN LETTER/ Come to the dialogue and listen to me speak, otherwise I will cut off your scholarships, you will rot in prison. Please!

 Kliko këtu për të tjera
Voxpress:

Arben Ahmetaj accused of corruption 22 years ago, how did the file disappear when he was in charge of Taxes

2023-02-08 21:03:45Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Arben Ahmetaj accused of corruption 22 years ago, how did the file disappear
Arben Ahmetaj

"No one is rich enough to buy their past." This is a famous saying of the Irish writer Oscar Wilde. An epitaph for politicians haunted by their past.

A documentary of the show "Inside Story", reveals the unknown past, but also the scandals of the present for the former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetaj. The man who is usually labeled as the money politician, not only because of the serious affairs he has been talked about, but also because of the positions he has held. 

Maybe very few people know, but the left-wing politician Arben Ahmetaj had his first positions of power with the Democrats. In his official CV, Ahmetaj has taken care to hide his first steps in politics with the Democratic Party.

In 1991, which coincides with the fall of the dictatorship, Ahmetaj completed his studies in English at the University of Tirana. In 1992, he served in the Ministry of Finance as an adviser to the democratic minister Genc Ruli. He left his job in immigration in the Greek state where he had moved since July 1991 and was catapulted to one of the most important ministers of the Democratic Party.

At this time, Arben Ahmetaj also worked on a project of the Treasury Department of the United States of America in Albania. Project that had a mission to help transform Albanian finances, from a communist state to a market economy. In 1992, he obtained his first training in the economic profile through a 1-month course in the USA on microcredits. Until 1995, he also worked as a Fiscal Advisor at the Bank of Albania.

Ahmetaj was increasing his ambitions and realized that with the diploma of an English teacher he would not get where he wanted. In the period between 1995-1997, he moved to the USA where he completed his master's studies in the "International Trade and Diplomacy" branch in Kentucky, United States. Finally, he had an economics degree, a profile that suited him to the job.

Ahmetaj throughout his journey, has had a strong sense of being with the winners, but without ever winning a battle himself. From a democrat, he converted to a socialist in 1997.

The door was opened for Ahmetaj in the Nano government to become the Director of the Cabinet at the Ministry of Finance and responsible for International Relations, a position he held until 1998. Then, he was appointed General Director of Taxes. He remained in office for one year. This period is considered one of the most problematic of the tax administration. Inside Story has learned from various sources from members of the cabinet of the time and prosecutors about the existence of a large corruption file that has never been talked about before.

Dosja në fjalë kishte prova për një ministër, Drejtorin e Përgjithshëm të Tatimeve, drejtorin e doganave, dhe të tjerë zyrtarë të lartë. Provat ishin grumbulluar dhe bënin fjalë për afera pikërisht kur në krye të Tatimeve ishte Arben Ahmetaj. Por, ai nuk u vu kurrë  nën akuzë. Dosja e korrupsionit u dorëzua aso kohe nga një zyrtare evropiane e quajtur Natalia Ceha (lexo: Çe’ha). Ajo ishte Kryetare e Divizionit të VI –Antikorrupsion pranë Bashkimit Evropian. Materiali iu dorëzua qeverisë dhe prokurorisë por kurrë nuk doli në dritë. Me dorëzimin e dosjes, zyrtarja evropiane mësohet se u largua pas presioneve të shumta.

Madje, në atë kohë zyrtares evropiane i çuan një zarf me plumba.

Inside Story, adresoi kërkesë zyrtare për informacion lidhur me çëështjen pranë Prokurorisë së Përgjithshme. Ky institucion, konfirmon për herë të parë ekzistencën e një dosje të tillë e cila për vite me radhë ëhstë bërë kujdes të fshihet.

Nëse hetimet do të ishin cuar përpara, dosja mund të fundoste nga ish-drejtorin e tatimeve Arben Ahmetaj, e deri tek disa ministra të kohës. Sipas organit qëndror të akuzës, dosja i është përcjellë për hetime të mëtejshme prokurorisë Tiranë përmes shkresës me numër protokolli 339/3 datë 22 Shkurt 2000.

Pra, Arben Ahmetaj dhe disa zyrtarë të tjerë janë hetuar 22 vite më parë për korrupsion në një çështje të mbajtur sekret. Ne u interesuam në Prokurorinë e Tiranës por në protokollin e këtij institucioni nuk ka asnjë të dhënë për ekzistencën e kësaj dosjeje.

Apparently, investigative materials and evidence either disappeared over time, or someone intervened to prevent the scandal from ever being discovered. It is up to the law-enforcement bodies to verify what happened to the file where, among many officials, the name of the former Director of Taxes, today a member of the Assembly after being dismissed as Deputy Prime Minister, was listed. What is known for sure is the fact that the European official Natalia Ceha also deposited the file in the government of the time and several ministers had copies.

The fact that the people mentioned for corruption in that file, left their duties quietly, including Arben Ahmetaj, stands out. Apparently, the case was closed simply by dismissal and without bringing any of the officials to justice.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

Video

SHIKO KANALIN NE YOUTUBE
×