
The former director of the Albanian Road Authority and, at the same time, the former minister for tourism, Sonila Qato, can be arrested by SPAK. Qato was invited to appear before the Special Prosecutor on Thursday, but announced that he could not because he has health problems.
For this reason, the date of October 26 has been set for him to appear in SPAK. So far, the official defendant for the Kardhiq-Delvinë road tender has been Elona Gogo, who was the chairperson of the bid evaluation committee.
She appeared two days ago at the Special Prosecutor's Office, accompanied by her lawyer Sokol Hazizaj, where she was acquainted with the official charge and all investigative documents. Gogo is accused of "violations of the basic rules in tenders".
This investigation started after one of the companies that competed to win the Kardhiq-Delvin road tender claimed that it was unfairly disqualified from the competition. The sources also indicate that several other people who were part of the bid evaluation committee are also under investigation. Sources indicate that some defendants have been charged with abuse of office, which is punishable by up to 7 years in prison, and the violation of equality in tenders is a criminal offense punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
For the same issue, the Supreme State Audit after the audit requested that a more in-depth investigation be carried out by the Special Prosecutor's Office, as there are suspicions that the value of 5 million Euros has been abused with the Kardhiq-Delvina road tender.
In 2019, 6 companies participated in the competition and the offers presented by them were from 15 to 19 million Euros, excluding value added tax. ARRSH at that time disqualified the 5 lowest bids, claiming that they did not meet the technical criteria, declaring the highest bid the winner.