"He fell on his own" - Businessman accused of raping journalist in Shkodra: I only pushed him, he was blackmailing me

2026-05-19 17:38:53Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

"He fell on his own" - Businessman accused of raping journalist in

The owner of the "Xhedis" supermarkets in Shkodër, Prek Gjoni, has denied having raped journalist Ervin Dushi.

In a phone call to News24, the businessman stated that the journalist fell down on his own while denying that he had any hand in his rape, stating that if there is evidence that he raped her, he is willing to serve 100 years in prison.

Further, the owner of "Xhedis" claimed that journalist Dushi blackmailed him for expired products, which according to him is not true because his markets do not carry such products. Regarding the blackmail received from the journalist, he further said that he has also notified the AKU.

"I have a lot to tell. This Ervini has been blackmailing me for 24 hours on social media, the supermarket network. He asked to meet a cousin of mine where he talked about expired things that were poisoning citizens.

"We don't know what he's talking about, because we're honest. I notified the police yesterday that what he was doing was not normal. I also notified the AKU that this person is blackmailing me and that it's not a matter of expired food," says Gjoni.

Again pointing out the fact that he did not even touch the journalist, Prek Gjoni says that he met with him, adding that he only pushed him and not hit him.

"It wasn't a random meeting, but he asked me to call him. I didn't hit him. He fell! Forget it. I didn't drop him. I pushed him, to be honest. I'm ready, at the police station, anywhere, to give my testimony," the businessman continued.

In concluding his response, the owner of "Xhedis" says that the journalist's mother worked at one of his supermarket outlets, but was forced to fire her on the grounds that she stole products. With this statement, the businessman raises suspicions that the clash between them may have been for personal reasons.  

"This person had a mother at work, for several years, he has been eating from our bread. But we fired his mother because she stole. We caught her stealing. I also caught this person's brother stealing. I have reported everything to the prosecutor's office," the businessman concludes.

John's reaction

I have a lot to tell. This Ervini has been blackmailing me for 24 hours on social networks, the supermarket network. He asked to meet a cousin of mine where he talked about expired things that were poisoning citizens. We don't know what he's talking about, because we're honest. I just notified the police yesterday, because what he was doing was not normal.

I also notified the AKU that this person is blackmailing me and that it is not a matter of expired food. He went to my place for dinner and met a friend of mine. We let him meet me at a bar. I was alone in the bar, he approached me. I said; sir, what is your problem with me? What do I owe you? He approached me and pushed me. I don't remember hitting him. He was killed when he fell. There were other people, who knows who, but I was worried. I was worried because he had been blackmailing me on social networks all day. He asked to meet me. I have him in messages. He asked to meet me.

It wasn't a random encounter, but he asked me to call him. I didn't hit him. He fell! Forget it. I didn't fall. I pushed him, to be honest. I'm ready, at the police station, anywhere, to give my testimony.

There is no one more honest than me in this matter! I didn't go to the police, no one asked me.

On April 19, a person named Jurgej Pepaj appeared in a media outlet and spoke about the supermarket owner, saying; I rape workers, I withhold their salaries.

When I heard the news, I said that there is nothing true. This person had a mother at work, for several years, he ate from our bread. But we fired his mother because she stole.

We caught him stealing. I also caught this person's brother stealing. I reported them all to the prosecutor's office.

This boy threatened my son that he would blow us up. I have proof of that too. The next day, Ervin came out to defend this boy. But there is no proof. If there is proof, they should sentence me to 100 years in prison.


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