The Gjirokastra Prosecution Office has completed its investigations and sent a citizen suspected of money laundering to court today, May 5th.
According to the prosecution, the person in question is citizen AB, who is suspected of having benefited from illegal activities in the United Kingdom. These proceeds, according to the investigation, were invested in real estate in the city of Saranda.
Two apartments and a luxury vehicle have been seized as part of the suspected assets. It is suspected that through these investments, actions were taken to hide the origin of the income.
The prosecution emphasizes that concrete steps have been taken to prevent money laundering. As part of the investigation, a preventive seizure has been imposed on the assets of the citizen in question.
Announcement from the Gjirokastra Prosecutor's Office:
The Gjirokastra Prosecution Office sends citizen AB to court for 'money laundering', 2 apartments and a car are seized, suspected of illegal activities in the United Kingdom
The Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Gjirokastra has completed the investigations and is sending to trial citizen AB, suspected of committing the criminal offense of "Laundering the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity", committed more than once, as provided for by Article 287 of the Criminal Code.
Preliminary investigations into criminal proceedings no. 13, of 2022, revealed that this citizen has acquired real estate from proceeds from illegal activity in the United Kingdom.
Through investing in real estate in the city of Saranda, as well as purchasing a "Mercedes Benz" vehicle with which he carries out the activity of "passenger transport" service, this citizen was found to have carried out financial transactions with the aim of avoiding reporting according to the legislation on the prevention of money laundering, for which reason he is being criminally prosecuted.
In view of the investigation, at the request of the Prosecutor's Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction in Gjirokastra, a "Preventive Seizure" was ordered on the assets belonging to citizen AB as follows:
a. Property of the type “Apartment” with surface area 66.8m2, location “1 Maji” street, Saranda;
b. Property of the type “Apartment” with surface area 160.7m2, location “1 Maji” Street, Saranda; and
c. “Mercedes Benz” car.
In addition, the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Gjirokastra expresses its full commitment to continuing the investigations of group crimes related to illicit enrichment by taking measures for their seizure and confiscation.