Former minister Fatmir Mediu, defendant in the "Gërdeci" case, today objected to the technical-military expertise before judge Irena Gjoka and SPAK prosecutor Arben Kraja.
For this, the former minister and his lawyers, Ardian Visha and Henrik Ligori, asked dozens of questions to the five experts who drafted it after the tragedy 17 years ago, on March 15, 2008.
"According to the orders of the General Staff, it is clear that the expenses for the transportation of ammunition were not part of the competence of the Minister of Defense.
"According to the budget law, donor funds for dismantling are considered part of the budget of the Ministry of Defense, whether grants or loans. In any other case, the transportation is done by the Armed Forces," Mediu declared.
Excerpt from Medi's statement
Were there incidents with loss of life before and after Gerdec? The experts have not answered. The experts themselves provide answers about the dangerousness of the process. The dismantling process has always been dangerous. There have been such cases in Italy and Germany, but also in Albania, as happened in Gramsh. Also the accident in Dhëmblan, Tepelena, where 3 soldiers were injured and one lost his life. There were also losses of life in Poliçan and Skrapar. The process is dangerous, but the minister is not an expert even on the process and the rules. The full knowledge belongs to military experts.
The minister's duties have been fulfilled. All necessary bylaws for the process have been issued. Everything else belonged to the Armed Forces.
The legal acts were complete. The experts underestimated some important information. The Minister, after receiving information from the Military Police about illegal actions by one of the contracting companies in Gërdec, made a note and requested that all measures be taken.