The Durrës Court has ordered the security measure " prison arrest " for the former branch director, Elisabeta Mataj , suspected of the criminal offense of " Theft by abuse of office ", committed in collaboration.
Meanwhile, for the other two people under investigation, Valbona Dunin and Paola Danaj , the court imposed the measure " house arrest ".
During the hearing, the Prosecution presented details from the investigation, providing data on the frequency of gambling venues by Mataj and her husband.
According to the data presented by the prosecution, Elisabeta Mataj has made 335 casino entries, and is considered a regular frequenter of one of the venues, " Plaza ". During the month of May alone, according to the Prosecution, she has had 27 entries in this venue.
According to investigators, her husband has 340 casino entries.
The prosecution has also referred to suspected amounts played in two casinos in Tirana, which are part of the verifications within the framework of the investigation.
Faced with these allegations, Elisabeta Mataj has not denied frequenting casinos, but has denied any connection to any legal violations or her duties.
"I am a free citizen. Explain to me what the signed contract is that I cannot go to bars, clubs and casinos," Mataj is reported to have said before the court.
At the end of the review, the Court decided:
To partially accept the Prosecution's request.
To assess as legal the ban on EM, VD and PD
To assign the security measure "prison arrest" to EM.
To assign the security measure "house arrest" to VD and PD.
To order the immediate release of VD and PD from detention cells, if they are not being held for any other criminal offense, as well as the execution of arrest measures in their homes.
Allow the decision to be appealed within 5 days at the Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction of Tirana.
The decision was announced in Durrës on July 18, 2026.