SPAK is not separated from Saimir Tahir, the former minister's property is under investigation after signals from foreign services

The former Minister of the Interior, Samiri Tahiri, has again fallen on the "radar" of the Special Structure Against Organized Crime and Corruption. When the former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetaj was announced as wanted by SPAK, the socialists and the associates of the two ministers of the Socialist Party often made comparisons between them regarding the accusations. What was said and widely accepted was that indeed Saimir Tahiri went to prison, but his wealth was never touched. Although behind bars for some time, declared and undeclared businesses of him and the entourage of the former interior minister who cannabisized Albania with the blessing of Prime Minister Edi Rama, continued to work and grow quietly. Meanwhile, for Arben Ahmetaj, SPAK has also targeted his property. Officially there are 3 charges against him; non-declaration of assets, passive corruption of high officials and laundering of proceeds of crime. But it seems that even Saimir Tahiri, who left the prison cells four months ago to serve the remainder of his sentence at home after a controversial decision of the Elbasan Court, cannot escape the financial investigation. A source near SPAK told Lapsi.al that an asset verification has started against the former Minister of the Interior. The prosecution body of the Special Prosecution is gathering information inside and outside the country to trace the assets of Saimir Tahir and to see if there are any concealment or elements of laundering the proceeds of the criminal offense. who left the prison cells for 4 months to serve the rest of his sentence at home after a controversial decision of the Court of Elbasan. A source near SPAK told Lapsi.al that an asset verification has started against the former Minister of the Interior. The prosecution body of the Special Prosecution is gathering information inside and outside the country to trace the assets of Saimir Tahir and to see if there are any concealment or elements of laundering the proceeds of the criminal offense. who left the prison cells for 4 months to serve the rest of his sentence at home after a controversial decision of the Court of Elbasan. A source near SPAK told Lapsi.al that an asset verification has started against the former Minister of the Interior. The prosecution body of the Special Prosecution is gathering information inside and outside the country to trace the assets of Saimir Tahir and to see if there are any concealment or elements of laundering the proceeds of the criminal offense.

US warning

But it seems as if such an expected blow to Tahir was warned the day he left prison and when the reactions from the United States of America embassy in Tirana did not delay. Here is what former ambassador Yuri Kim wrote then. "It is very disappointing to see that the old ways of impunity and privilege for some continue in the justice system in Albania. These old ways are not suitable for a NATO ally and EU aspirants and they must be firmly rejected. The US considers corruption to be a fundamental national security threat. Those who engage in giving or accepting threats and inducements – for example, to help powerful friends – must understand that their actions will have consequences,” Ambassador Yuri Kim wrote. The reaction of the US Embassy was on the same wavelength. "We are following with concern the release of Saimir Tahir and we are looking for the documents of the process", it was said in the reaction of the diplomatic headquarters, which had its representatives in every session of Saimir Tahir's trial.

Skema

Ndërkohë vendimi i formës së prerë për dënimin me 3 vite e 4 muaj për “shpërdorim detyre” ndaj Tahirit u dha më 4 shkurt 2022. Ndërkohë 1 vit e 4 muaj më pas ish-Ministri i Brendshëm u lirua nga burgu pas dy ekspertizave mjeko-ligjore që arsyetonin përse ai nuk mund të qëndronte më pas hekurave për pjesën e mbetur të dënimit. Në njërën prej ekspertizës thuhej se Tahiri kishte probleme shëndetësore. Në tjetrën shpjegohej se bashkëshortja e ish-ministrit nuk është në gjendje të mirë shëndetësore dhe për pasojë, nuk kishte kush të kujdesej për fëmijët. Mbase duke qenë edhe ata në dijeni të presionit amerikan, kishin parandjerë se dalja e parakohshme nga burgu nuk do të pritej mirë nga ndërkombëtarët e posaçërisht amerikanët, si investitori kryesor i reformës në drejtësi. Mbetet tani për t’u parë se si do t’i orientojë SPAK hetimet për pasurinë e Saimir Tahirit dhe se a do të kemi një proces të dytë në Gjykatën e Posaçme ndaj ish-Ministrit të Brendshëm.

Çfarë ka ndodhur?

Nga ana tjetër, kujtojmë se disa muaj më parë Struktura e Posaçme Anti-Korrupsion (SPAK) ka dërguar rekurs në Gjykatën e Lartë për ish-Ministrin e Brendshëm, Saimir Tahiri. SPAK-u kërkon dënimin për Tahirin në lidhje me akuzat për trafikun e drogës dhe të grupit të strukturuar kriminal. “Argumentet dhe provat e pranuara nga gjykata, cilësimi si shpërdorim detyre është i gabuar. Por duhet cilësuat vepra e kryer si trafikim në kuadër të grupit të strukturuar”, thotë ndër të tjera SPAK. Në datën 4 shkurt të këtij viti, Gjykata e Posaçme la në fuqi vendimin e shkallës së parë për ish-ministrin, me ndryshimin që Tahiri do të vuaj në burg dënimin me 5 vite heqje lirie. Për shkak të gjykimit të shkurtuar, Tahiri do të vuajë 3 vite e 4 muaj. SPAK kërkoi 12 vite burg për Tahirin dhe ish-drejtorin e policisë Jaeld Çela. Nga ana tjetër, mbrojtja kërkoi që Tahiri të shpallej i pafajshëm. Gjykata nuk ndryshoi dënimin për ish-drejtorin e policisë së Vlorë, Jaeld Çela i dënuar po me 3 vite e 4 muaj burg.