DP Denunciation: Tropoja Mayor Builds Personal Bridge for Sister, to Be Investigated for Abuse of Office

The DP's anti-corruption spokesperson, Genta Vangjeli, stated in a statement to the media that the acting Mayor of Tropoja Municipality is building a personal bridge for her sister and that she should be investigated for abuse of office.

Statement by the Anti-Corruption Spokesperson in the Democratic Party, Genta Vangjeli:

A few days ago, the investigative show "Piranjat" denounced the Tropoja Municipality for the scandal related to the tender for the "Construction and reconstruction of bridges, Tropoja Municipality".

Ms. Islamaj, who is responsible for the management and administration of the municipality, after the security measure imposed by SPAK for the mayor, also denounced by the DP, Mr. Rexh Byberi,

At the same time, in her capacity as the person responsible for this procurement, she appears to have continued to favor family members by ordering the construction of a bridge... for her sister.

She asked the contractor to build a custom bridge over the stream that runs right next to her sister's apartment.

For this, Mrs. Islamaj forced the road maintenance technician, Agim Demiraj, to assist the builder by showing him where her sister's house is, to follow the works, and to insist to the builder that the bridge be completed as soon as possible.

However, Demiraj refused to be involved in violating the law, given that the construction of the bridge for the mayor's sister was not part of the procurement procedure.

For this refusal, the acting mayor would "revenge" Agim Demiraj by transferring him from the city of Bajram Curri to the village of Lekbibaj, 20 kilometers round trip from the city, despite the fact that he had worked for about 3 decades in the Municipality of Tropoja and was on the verge of retirement.

Islamaj's involvement in the construction of the family bridge for his sister was also acknowledged by the contractor who carried out the works, stating that "the construction of the bridge for the mayor's sister was not part of the tender procedures and that the latter would give her a "gift".

This is how Edi Rama's officials have been taught, according to the slogan "we move forward", perceiving duty and state assets as personal and family, ordering benefits in flagrant violation of the law, and for all those who disobey, there are penalties...

The acting mayor of Tropoja municipality should resign immediately and investigative procedures should be initiated by the relevant bodies.