GJKKO sentences former Supreme Court judge Guxim Zenelaj, confiscates his assets in Himara and Shëngjin

The Special Court found former Supreme Court member Guxim Zenelaj guilty of concealing assets and sentenced him to 6 months in prison.

The former judge will not go to prison, after the court decided to suspend the execution of the sentence and imprisonment and place him on probation for a period of 1 year, on the condition that the defendant does not commit another criminal offense.

SPAK's investigations have shown that Zenelaj did not have legal resources to purchase a plot of land in Porto-Palermo in Himara, as well as 6 real estate properties in Ishull-Shëngjin, Lezha.

The assets in question have been confiscated by the court.

Decision of the Criminal Court:

1. The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime has submitted to the Court the request with the subject matter: “Trial of the criminal case pertaining to criminal proceedings no. 137/5 of 2021, against the defendant Guxim Zenelaj, accused of committing the criminal offense “Refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets, private interests of elected persons and public servants or of any other person who has a legal obligation to declare”, provided for by Article 257/a, second paragraph of the Criminal Code”.

2. The trial of this case was conducted under the rules of ordinary trial. At the end of the trial, the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, with a panel composed of Judge Bib Ndreca, by decision No. 26, dated 17.03.2025, decided:

1. The guilty plea of ??the defendant Guxim Zenelaj, for committing the criminal offense of "Refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets, private interests of elected persons and public servants or of any other person who has a legal obligation to declare" provided for by Article 257/a, second paragraph of the Criminal Code, and his sentence to 6 (six) months of imprisonment.

2. Based on Article 59 of the Criminal Code, the execution of the decision to imprison the defendant Guxim Zenelaj is ordered to be suspended, with the defendant being obliged to maintain contact with the local office of the Tirana Probation Service. The defendant is placed on probation for a period of 1 (one) year, provided that during the probation period he does not commit another criminal offense.

3. Pursuant to Article 61 of the Criminal Code, the defendant is obliged during the probation period to: a) Respond to calls and requests from the Tirana Local Probation Service Office; b) Obtain consent from the Tirana Local Probation Service Office for a change of residence.

4. Based on Article 393 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the expenses incurred in the preliminary investigation phase, in the amount of 220,000 (two hundred and twenty thousand) lekë and the court costs, according to the attached form, are charged to the defendant.

5. An appeal against the decision is allowed by the parties to the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, within 15 days from the day after the communication of this decision.