Mustafa Martinaj’s testimony today in court was long and full of information and details about his and his son’s years to date, especially in the field of finance and business.
What was seen in the courtroom was Mustafa’s conviction that he had lost his son, and for several months he had been demanding that justice act by considering him officially dead.
In his testimony, which you can read below, Mustafai claims that he has been confronted by the police many times, as he says, after Visi died:
“After Visa’s death, after the disappearance, the police came to me 23 times, don’t be offended, I’m neither stupid nor naive, ask Nallbat and his friends and they’ll tell you,” Mustafai said.
In his testimony before the court, Mustafa Martinaj also spoke about his financial activity during the difficult years of transition, saying that in 1999 he transported over 800 thousand dollars in cash by vehicle to various areas of the north of the country, emphasizing that this was money from his legal and declared activity.
Testimony in court
Martinaj said that during difficult times he circulated large amounts of cash, saying that “I walked around with 800 thousand dollars in my car” during the years of unrest. According to his testimony, the financial activity was declared and linked to his work at the time, mentioning also the period of 1999, when according to him the situation in the country was uncertain due to the presence of criminal gangs.
Mustafa Martinaj also spoke about his son’s life, saying that Ervis studied economics in Italy, in Parma, around 2000-2001, on a scholarship, but then returned to Albania to live with his family. He added that his son was involved in various activities and that the family helped financially on several occasions, including purchasing properties and vehicles.
In his testimony, he also mentioned that there was business activity in the private financial sector and, referring to the “Tirana Financial Union”, said that numerous transactions were carried out during that period.
Below is the statement of Mustafa Martinaj, father of Ervis Martinaj, at the Special Court of Kosovo, during the hearing on his property:
For his son, Ervis Martinaj
Mustafa Martinaj:
“Visi was initially a student in Parma, Italy, around 2000–2001. He went on a scholarship and studied economics for two years in Italy. The girls were at school in Albania. When the girls started their studies, Visi moved to stay with his sisters and settled in Tirana. Then, later, they got married. The apartment was taken, if I’m not mistaken, at the end of 2005.
Visi was above average in his studies. He wanted to continue his studies in Italy. He left his studies there halfway and came to Tirana to live with his sisters. While he was in school, he was very hardworking and liked his independence. He had never done any work in Italy.
He asked me for help to buy a house together. I bought two cars, one for the two girls and one for Visi. For the girls, I took out a loan of 12,500 euros for a small car, a Japanese brand. I didn’t have any concerns from the boy. I had the keys. A dry hand doesn’t kiss. We are a traditional mountain family.
He continued his studies in economics after coming to Albania, but he failed the exams, so he did not receive his diploma. He had opened a business with a friend; I don’t remember his name, but if I look for him I can find it. He was a guy from Tirana. They repaired the toys that children played with, the ones with horses.
For the years of unrest ’97
“You see me here, disabled as I was, I drove alone from Tirana with over 800 thousand dollars in cash, cards and phones, at 12 o’clock in the night, in the most difficult period, in 1999, when gangs were on the streets. I had a 2400 car and I took the money in the trunk, to Rubik and Rrëshen. It was the money from my activity. UFT was a private institution, the Financial Union of Tirana; I received the amounts there. Not even a scratch happened to me. I played with my head, while incidents happened to others.”
For the son’s bets
“From 2008 onwards, the guy has been dealing with licensed lottery points, with 100% paid obligations to the company, as well as local ones. I don’t remember where he opened the first point. If he had asked me, I would have said no. I had Mati Union; it’s a transfer account. I personally haven’t had the lottery. I’ve gone through all kinds of investigations.”
For family businesses
“My wife and brother had a power of attorney to carry out actions with Mati Union. Even today, as we speak, I have an authorized person who deals with them. I have spoken to the boy dozens of times about his activity. We faced off at the Çiftelia Ensemble in court. The decision was made by the First Instance Court.
A. Kaçorri is my nephew, the girl’s son, he is 14 years old (the prosecutor asked what relationship Ervis has with his nephew). I gave A. Kaçorri a birthday present, I’m talking about 1000 euros, because I have a nephew.”
On the criminal prosecution of the boy, the assassination and the seizures
“I know that the boy has been convicted of gambling. I have gone through all the investigations, from the Bank of Albania to money laundering. I know Bisere Haton after the incident in Bllok, in 2018, where the boy was injured and another was killed. The murderer has not served a single day in prison.
A property that is currently seized in the name of Bisere Hato was granted to him by my son, Eljo Hato, with my consent. The apartment was granted only because Eljo Hato, Bisere’s son, saved Vis’s life.
I bought the first good car my son had with my own money. It cost 60 thousand euros, or 48 thousand euros; I don’t remember exactly. I bought it for him early on. He has never caused me any trouble at home in his life. There is no young man who doesn’t have conflicts or fights, but until 2018, never. Ask in Laç, let someone speak badly; his name was mentioned with respect.
“Visi returned to the family…”
In 2018, he came and lived with his whole family at my place. He left Tirana, we got his passport. He was mainly engaged in fishing, not for trade. He stayed in Laç until the day he disappeared, on August 9, 2022.
I was called once at my request and I declared myself. He lived on the income he had from the business he was involved in, then he lived with me. He probably bought a car himself. I don’t know about any property he had in Tirana. He had an apartment at Qemal Stafa’s; to my knowledge, no other property.
Hotel in Tirana
“I must have bought Hotel Arbëria in 2016–2017. It was closed at the time. I invested a lot of money; I need to see the estimate to see the cost. The activity has continued the same as it was. The business was bought by me, Mustafa Martinaj.”
He talks about his son’s escape…
“After Vis’s death, after the disappearance, the police came to me 23 times. Don’t be offended. I’m neither stupid nor naive. Ask Nallbat and his friends, they’ll tell you.”
The testimony follows:
“I am an economist by profession. I suffered a very serious accident in the late ’90s. I was treated in Rome and, after returning to Albania, I started working as director of the Judicial Chamber in Laç, Lezhë and Mirdita.”
After 1997, I started my private business. I started with a stationery and photocopying business. For about 3 years I was involved in money exchange. Then I started working as the exclusive administrator of UBT for the Laç district, with 3 points. I worked in Mirditë, Mat and Fushë-Krujë, with voluminous activity and extraordinary income.
Considering the time, the Kosovo war and the very high remittances, the activity has been very large. I operated throughout Albania and had exclusivity in 4 districts.
Ervis was in his third year of high school, while his sisters were even younger. During this time, my work went very well. UBT is still active today, you can verify it.
In 2007, I worked as an administrator at Union Bank in Laç, but also with banking services. From this activity, the income was somewhere around 60 thousand dollars, but for me it was secondary.
All my activities have been in a very difficult period, Mr. Chairman. I have been unfairly attacked. The Savings Bank, which had the main activity, no longer exists and there are no documents. Other banks, mainly, have not reflected even 30% of my activity.
I have about 3.5 million euros in income and about 6 million in loans. I am able to prove these with bank decisions. A large portion has been declared for the UBT company. I bought Hotel Arbëria through the bank, where I received a bank loan for this work. In each case, the actions were carried out through the bank. I can present you with the documents at any time.
My family consists of me, my wife, two daughters and my deceased son, who is no longer here. I am ashamed that I come here for clothes and bricks and have never been called by you. I have given statements, but I have not had any signal from you.
Until 2008, none of the children worked, they were in school. Ervis Martinaj was a student in Parma, Italy. He went around 2000–2001 on a scholarship and studied economics. The girls were in school in Albania.
When they started their studies, Visi moved to live with them and then settled in Tirana. Later, they got married. The apartment was purchased, if I’m not mistaken, at the end of 2005.
Visi was above average in his studies. He wanted to continue his studies in Italy, but he left his studies halfway through and came to Tirana to live with his sisters.
While he was at school, he was very hardworking and liked his independence. He had never worked in Italy. He asked me for help in buying a house together.
I bought two cars, one for the two girls and one for Visi. For the girls, I took out a loan of 12,500 euros for a small car, a Japanese brand.
I haven’t had any problems with the boy. I had the keys. ‘A dry hand is not kissed’. We are a traditional mountain family.
He opened a business with a friend. I don’t remember his name, but if I look for him I can find him. He was a guy from Tirana. They repaired toys, toys that children played with, horses.
I, who you see here, disabled as I was, was walking around Tirana alone with over 800 thousand dollars in cash, cards and phones, at midnight, during the most difficult period of 1999, when gangs were on the streets.
I had a 2400 car and I would take the money in the trunk to Rubik and Rrëshen. It was the money from my activity.
“UFT was a private institution, the Financial Union of Tirana. I received the amounts there. I never had any problems. I played with my head, while incidents happen to others,” he said.