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How did a former mortgage official turn into a tower builder and spend tens of millions of euros?!

2026-08-16 13:47:03Fokus SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Shkëlzen Betaj, former director of Hipoteka

The former number two of Tirana Mortgage, Shkëlzen Betaj, has transformed in a few years into one of the names that appears behind major construction projects in the capital. From offices where property files were once kept, today Betaj has moved on to multi-story towers, construction companies and investments that require millions of euros, Pamfleti reported today.

The companies associated with Betaj are relatively new, their registered capitals are modest, while the projects in which they appear have a large financial dimension.

Shkëlzen Betaj held the position of deputy director of the Tirana Mortgage, an institution that for years has been at the center of the capital's property market. In that position, he had direct knowledge of the property registration system, large landowners, and urban developments in Tirana.

After leaving the administration, Betaj did not disappear from the property market. On the contrary, his name began to appear on the other side of it, among construction companies.

One of the largest projects he is involved in is a 25-story tower that will be built between Kavaja Street and Durrës Street, in the embassy block area.

The location is among the most expensive in Tirana. The project envisages commercial premises, offices, a hotel and apartments, making it an investment that requires considerable financing.

After the project, the companies "Ultra Tek" sh.pk, associated with the Sinanaj brothers, and "Lunor" sh.pk, of Shkëlzen Betajt, appear.

It is precisely "Lunor" that raises the biggest questions. The company was created only a few years ago, while it already appears in a project that, in terms of construction volume and market value, falls into the category of multi-million euro investments.

How did a former mortgage official turn into a tower builder and spend tens of
Tower in the Embassy block

And this is not the only tower. Another project in the Ali Demi area reveals a similar scheme of companies and partners.

In June 2025, the company "EL&EL Construction" was registered, owned by Elda Betaj, the wife of Shkëlzen Betaj, and Elis Sinani, the wife of Andi Sinani.

Just a few months later, on October 17, 2025, the company's shares were transferred to Gjoka Ndërtim and G88 sh.pk of Daniel Garunja, a former candidate for deputy of the Social Democratic Party.

In the transaction documents, Shkëlzen Betaj and Andi Sinanaj appear as consenting persons.

How did a former mortgage official turn into a tower builder and spend tens of
Tower in the Ali Demi area

In October 2024, Shkëlzen Betaj and Andi Sinanaj created "SIAN BUILDINGS ALBANIA" with a capital of only 100 thousand lek, a figure barely enough to pay for a technical expertise, but within a year and a half this company emerged as the developer of three giant projects.

SIAN's first project is a 26, 31 and 35-story multifunctional building in Tirana, entered into the KKTU in April 2025, the second project is being built on "Mustafa Xhabrahimi" Street with 3-8 floors, while the third is an 18-story complex in Velipojë with a swimming pool and tourist infrastructure, entered into the KKTU on April 17, 2026.

Within a relatively short period of time, a former state official has entered into construction projects that require millions of euros and is creating a property portfolio that cannot be explained solely by the income he may have had during his career in administration.

For a person who has held an important public position and who today appears in investments of this magnitude, it raises the alarm for monitoring and law enforcement bodies in the country.

This is where a serious verification of the assets and economic activity of Shkëlzen Betaj and the companies associated with him should begin.

According to sources at the Money Laundering and Economic Crime Authority, verifications have been launched against properties and files registered at the Tirana Anti-Money Laundering and Economic Crime Office during Betaj's mandate, and his business partners are now being put under the microscope of investigators.

How did a former mortgage official turn into a tower builder and spend tens of

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