Denada Jushi
The Special Anti-Corruption Structure continues to add names of mayors and other officials to the circle of investigations. By indicting mayors and other high-level officials, corruption schemes are being uncovered day after day.
What is striking as the 6th anniversary of the creation of this structure approaches is that more officials are passing through the SPAK system than are in office. The central government, but above all the local government, shows that more investigative files are being produced than projects for citizens.
ACQJ until June 2025, made a resumes of all officials high-ranking officials who were found guilty or convicted by the new justice system.
But who are the officials and mayors that SPAK has recently indicted?
Last Friday, SPAK announced that it had completed its investigation and sent the mayor of Roskovec, Majlinda Bufi, to trial on charges of exerting pressure on a citizen not to vote in the local elections of May 14, 2023. The criminal offense the mayor is accused of is "Using public office for political or electoral activity."
The Special Prosecution's investigations say that Bufi used the citizen's situation, as he had a benefit in the Municipality's social programs, to put pressure on him.
Another mayor, that of Vau i Dejës, Kristjan Shkreli, has been taken into custody by SPAK. He is suspected of the criminal offense of electoral corruption. Along with Shkreli, 3 other people are also suspected. The criminal offense is related to the elections of May 11, 2025.
Before the elections, the head of Duman visited the Shkodra district several times, conveying the message that SPAK was investigating vote buying. The Shkodra district has been highlighted for this phenomenon on many occasions.
Earlier, another mayor, that of Kolonja, Erion Isai, was indicted by the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, for committing the criminal offense of "Violation of equality of participants in public tenders or auctions."
Over the past two years, Isai has been seen appearing at SPAK several times, where he has given explanations regarding the procedures followed in several tenders. According to the prosecution, he is suspected of favoring certain economic operators during tender procedures, along with other municipal employees.
ACQJ reached out to SPAK for comment, if there are other names under investigation? Given that many other mayoral names have been seen passing through SPAK's door, such as the former mayor of Mat, Agron Malaj, who currently holds the status of MP;
the former mayor of Kamza and the current mayor; the former mayor of Kavaja Roshi; the acting mayor of Shkodra, Beci; the mayor of Lushnja, Eriselda Sefa; the mayor of Fier, Armando Subashi; etc.
Without a doubt, nearly 70% of local government leaders or former leaders have been questioned by SPAK at least once, some under investigation, some defendants, and some already convicted.
But so far SPAK has not responded.
But it doesn't stop there.
The "surprise" of the GJKKO with judge Erion Çela was the SPAK order to launch investigations into the MP, and former prosecutor dismissed by vetting, Arjan Ndoja. From suspicions of money laundering to failure to declare assets.
To conclude what was an intense week, the former director general of prisons, Agim Ismaili, was also named as a defendant. The charges relate to the hacking of SPAK data in March 2025.
In addition to all the names and accusations that SPAK has raised against these officials, the main focus is on what will happen next with the case of the government's number two, Belinda Balluku, who has been named as a defendant for the Llogara Tunnel on the charge of "Violation of equality in tenders."
With just a few weeks left until the end of the year, SPAK's balance sheet shows us that this year, more officials produced investigative files than performed their duties. /acqj.al
