Ilir Meta's accounts with justice have finally been reopened. 12 years after the closing of the video-scandal with Dritan Prifti in the High Court, an affair for which the prosecution requested two years in prison for corruption, Ilir Meta is officially under investigation by SPAK, this time for money laundering with lobbying contracts, concealment of financial expenses of the party, fraud in the CEC, etc.
SPAK has registered anonymous criminal proceedings after the report referred by former MP Halit Valteri against Ilir Meta for lobbying with corruption money in the United States of America.
The criminal report by Walter was the result of the investigation of the largest Austrian newspaper, "Kronen Zeitung", which accused that President Ilir Meta paid 700,000 thousand dollars for lobbying through a Cypriot shell company, to provide a photo at the inauguration ceremony of the President American Donald Trump.
The former MP, in addition to the newspaper article, claimed that there is additional evidence brought to him by a foreign journalist, including invoices and contracts, which confirm the watering by Ilir Meta with unjustified money when he was chairman of the SMI.
Shqiptarja.com learns that a few days after the referral, the criminal report was registered in the register of criminal offenses, but without a specific name to which the suspected criminal offense is attributed.
Ilir Meta is with presidential immunity until July 24 of this year, when his term ends, while it remains to be seen whether the investigations will be diverted or will include Meta, accusing him of criminal responsibility.
Lobbying confirmed for 700 thousand USD
Some documents published in the media have confirmed the authenticity of the article published a few days ago by the Austrian newspaper "Kronen Zeitung", which denounced Ilir Meta and the SMI for having paid 700 thousand USD for lobbying in the United States. United States, for a photo at the inauguration ceremony of US President Donald Trump, in 2017.
The documents submitted to the American authorities seriously compromise Ilir Meta and the SMI. The contracts confirm that Ilir Meta, at the beginning of 2017, paid about 700 thousand dollars to the McKeon Group company. 90 thousand dollars were paid by the lawyer Iraklis Fidetzis, while another 600 thousand again by Fidetzis but through the company "Dorelita Limited", registered as offshore in Cyprus.
But where did Ilir Meta find the money to make payments in January-February 2017 for the company McKeon Group and 600 thousand euros for the company "Dorelita Limited"? Has Meta declared this money to the Central Election Commission or to the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Control of Assets?
Contrary to what US documents show, in its annual financial report for 2017, submitted to the Central Election Commission, the SMI has reported costs for consulting and lobbying in the amount of 3.3 million ALL. Specifically, the SMI has declared to the CEC consulting costs in the amount of 1,414,465 ALL with the company JPM Strategic Solution LLc USA. Also, the Socialist Movement for Integration Party has declared in the financial report consulting services with the company MCKEON GROUP, in the amount of 1,942,500 ALL.
The Central Election Commission, through a report, has concluded that the SMI does not justify with legal sources of income even the second contract, that with the company MCKEON GROUP, worth 1.9 million ALL.