The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) arrested Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj this afternoon. In addition to him, security measures were requested for his wife, Ajola Xoxa, and six entrepreneurs.
Veliaj was notified of the arrest warrant while he was in his office. Ironically, his Facebook page showed him at an event. Live! of the inauguration of a kindergarten in Yzberisht.
But, he was at the municipality and was accompanied by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) around 13:00. Meanwhile, the measure of “house arrest,” but the execution was postponed because she was out of the country.
Veliaj is accused of corruption and money laundering, while Xoxa is accused of corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets.
The Criminal Code provides for prison sentences of 4 to 12 years for cases of corruption in public office.
For money laundering or concealment of assets, the sentence can reach up to 15 years, depending on the circumstances.
SPAK suspects that the Veliaj-Xoxa couple are corrupt. According to NOTIFICATION, preliminary investigations by prosecutors Ols Dado and Altin Dumani suggest their involvement in a corrupt scheme.
They are suspected of having illegally benefited from around €1.1 million.
Investigations show that the money circulated through non-profit organizations controlled by Xoxa. It was generated as payments from entrepreneurs in business relations with the municipality.
Authorities suspect that Xoxa and her family members spent around €870,000 online shopping on clothing and jewelry alone.
Veliaj's firm, as the owner, is suspected of having been instrumental in the money laundering scheme.
The investigations began in 2023 after information was sent by mail by a person identified as Nesti Angoni.
So far, SPAK has indications that at least six entrepreneurs were involved in the scheme. They are Elman Abule, Gentian Sula, Meriman Palushi, Fatmir Bektashi, Sokol Kryeziu and Shkëlqim Fusha.
For five of them, SPAK has imposed the measure "compulsory appearance" while for Abula, "prison arrest".
These entrepreneurs are suspected of obtaining tenders and construction permits by making corrupt payments in favor of Xoxa NGOs.
The companies are: Rametal, Agi Kons, Palushi shpk, Kontakt shpk, Gerard-A and Fusha shpk.
It is suspected that under this corrupt nature, the Veliaj-Xoxa couple has benefited from a villa with about 500 square meters of land in Qerret.
The villa, which was registered under the name of entrepreneur Sula's company Agi Kons, was placed under seizure.
In December 2024, Veliaj testified before BKH agents regarding the allegations. He and his family members, including his brother Arbi Veliaj, were reportedly subject to property investigations.
On December 6, SPAK seized Xoxa's phone and conducted searches at the NGO's studio, "Harabel," in the former Bllok. Documents and money in various currencies, euros and dollars, worth over 11 million lek, were seized from the office.
SPAK announced that Socialist MP Klotilda Bushka, who heads the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Affairs, has also been placed under investigation. She is suspected of obstructing the investigation against Veliaj by exerting pressure on a witness.
Velija's reaction and past implications
In one REACTION on social media, Veliaj denied the accusations, calling them "idiot"He expressed his condolences to the family and put SPAK's claims into perspective.
"My family and I have nothing to do with the word corruption," emphasized Veliaj.
He further said that he regretted that entrepreneurs got involved in this matter only because "sponsored cultural activities".
Erion Veliaj began his political career in the early 2000s as an activist for the "Mjaft" organization.
In 2011, he joined the Socialist Party and two years later became a member of parliament for Gjirokastra. He then took on the role of Minister of Social Welfare. He held this position until 2015, when he successfully ran for mayor of Tirana.
But during this time in politics, Veliaj's figure has been accompanied by numerous public accusations.
In 2014, Agon Channel television alleged threats from Veliaj. The allegation was related to suspicions that he and Xoxa had their wedding in the Gjirokastra castle illegally.
Two years later, the tragic death of 17-year-old Ardit Gjoklaj at the Sharra landfill stirred up further accusations. Veliaj had promoted the landfill as a safe place to work, but it turned out that the activity was carried out in the black.
Journalists Alida Tota (A1) and Artan Rama (Vizion+) were fired after investigating the issue. The media outlets where they worked were allegedly put under political pressure.
With government support, Veliaj proposed the demolition of the National Theater in favor of a new project. The scheme supported the company “Fusha shpk” that would receive a permit for a tower if it undertook the construction.
The theater collapsed in the midst of the pandemic in May 2020 despite protests from artists and engaged citizens.
The Sharra landfill concession, known as the "Incinerator," is another issue with accusations against Veliaj. This is because he turns out to be the person who recommended the project.
The landfill never had a burner, but the concession received continuous payments as if the investment had been completed. SPAK has investigated several people, including former Environment Minister Lefter Koka, who has been accused of illegal benefits.
In 2024, SPAK arrested several of Veliaj's subordinates following investigations into what became known as the “5D Case.” Directors such as Mariglen Qato, Redi Molla, and Taulant Tusha were accused of tender abuse, corruption, and money laundering.
Investigations revealed that they used the company "5D Konstruksion" as a cover to benefit from at least 12 tenders.
Initially, Veliaj denied the existence of this issue, especially during the 2023 local election campaign. But he later changed his stance, removing responsibility from himself and denying his involvement.
Abuses with reconstruction projects and the indiscriminate opening of new squares for towers in Tirana are other accusations against Veliaj.
*The news was updated with Veliaj's reaction and the context of MP Bushka's involvement in the investigation.
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He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
