With the investigation deadline closing on October 20, SPAK is accelerating its moves in the case against former deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku. Tenders remain at the center, but according to the official version, the investigation has also been expanded to assets, corruption and concealment of assets, while there is still no decision on when the lawmaker herself will be summoned.
New summonses for Balluku’s former subordinates
Former Albanian Road Authority director Ergys Verdho, as well as Viola Haxhiademi, former secretary general of the Ministry of Infrastructure, have recently appeared at SPAK. Both held posts in structures that once reported to Balluku.
The move indicates that special prosecutors are gathering testimony and closing procedural steps ahead of the case deadline, in a file that for months has raised questions about how tenders with significant public weight were administered.
One year of investigation and a long list of names
One year has passed since the case was registered against the former official, who was initially made a defendant over several tenders. According to publicly disclosed information, the list of people involved in the proceedings is long.
Among the names mentioned are Belinda Balluku, Evis Berberi, Gentian Gjylin, Genti Raca, Erald Elezi, Jonida Cece, Ardian Kroni, Denis Xhoxhi, Eduart Agalliu, Arbër Troka, Miranda Shkurta, Dhurata Lazaj, Nikollaq Mihali, Gëzim Noni, Arlinda Gordani, Jetmira Dervishi and Mirzeta Kashnica. For some of them, due to procedural deadlines, charges are being formally communicated, while others remain under investigation.
The investigation extends to assets and seized villas
According to SPAK, the investigation has not been limited only to tender procedures. The prosecution has expanded its checks to assets as well, seizing two villas suspected of having been obtained through corruption, concealed and not declared.
In the suspected scheme described by SPAK, Igli Tare and businessman Arbër Abazi are also mentioned, while the involvement of other businessmen is not ruled out. These are investigative claims that remain to be proven in the proceedings.
Appeal court upheld the seizures, but Balluku still has no date at SPAK
The Court of Appeal has upheld both seizures of Belinda Balluku’s villas. In parallel, SPAK is questioning people suspected of involvement in tenders for which there are suspicions that the winners were predetermined in violation of equal competition rules.
However, there is still no date for when the former deputy prime minister, now a member of parliament, will be summoned for questioning. She faces several accusations which, according to the investigation, began with the tender case and later expanded with suspicions of corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets.
With the October 20 deadline approaching, the weight of the case appears to be shifting from the initial suspicions to a broader picture involving institutional decision-making, possible benefits and the asset trail.
This is precisely where not only the strength of the investigation will be tested, but also the justice system’s ability to move from announcements with names to evidence that holds up in court.