Renowned journalist Klodiana Lala has analyzed the progress of some of the most important files being investigated by SPAK, starting with the investigations against former Deputy Prime Minister and former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, the AKSHI affair and the “Aruba” file. While invited to a television studio yesterday, journalist Lala revealed that former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku’s position has worsened because she has now been taken on as a defendant by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) for all other lots of the Grand Ring Road, in addition to the Llogara Tunnel, while she is also suspected of corruption and money laundering.
As part of the investigation, she stressed that searches were carried out on several villas in the south of the country as well as on the company “Atelier 4”, which is suspected of having designed these villas that may be her hidden assets. Also, Ms. Lala announced that the court has authorized searches on 53 other phones, in addition to others that were searched earlier. “Her position in relation to the law has been significantly aggravated because she is no longer the defendant only for the Llogara tunnel, but charges have also been filed for other lots of the Great Ring Road. There have been searches, several villas in the south of the country, the company that is suspected of having done the interior design of these villas, which according to prosecutors there are suspicions that they are Balluk’s hidden assets. If proven and if it leads to a possible seizure, this significantly aggravates her position.
“It is also being investigated for corruption and money laundering. New checks have also been carried out on an architect in Vlora and it remains to be seen what the new data is. Cell phones have been seized, witnesses have been taken. There are also 53 cell phones that are currently being examined out of about 80. The court has also approved the rest of the cell phones for inspection,” she stated.
“Aruba” file
Meanwhile, journalist Klodiana Lala stated that the focus of the investigations are the meetings held in Aruba, Majorca and other countries, while new developments are expected from the work of the prosecutors. The file known as “Aruba” remains one of the issues for which SPAK is continuing the investigations and where new developments are expected. Journalist Klodiana Lala provided details on the names and groups mentioned in this file, as well as on the meetings that are being verified by the prosecutors. According to Lala, in the “Aruba” file, the investigation is not limited to Artur Shehu and Ilir Shtufi, but is also following the movements and meetings held outside Albania.
Aruba and Majorca are two of the countries that emerge in this part of the investigation. According to the journalist, SPAK is verifying the meetings held in these destinations and in other countries, an element that shows that the investigation is also following the connections created outside the Albanian territory. Lala stated that new developments are expected from the investigation, without however providing concrete data on what measures SPAK may take or whether the prosecutors have reached conclusions about the responsibility of the mentioned persons. “Regarding the AKSHI file, Ermal Beqiraj has been arrested by the French authorities. He had bought a castle in France, had light aircraft that he piloted himself and had opened companies in European Union countries. Meanwhile, new developments are expected in the ‘Aruba’ file, which includes Artur Shehu, Ilir Shtufi and other groups. Meetings held in Aruba, Majorca and other countries are being investigated.
“Investigations into money laundering against Shpëtim Ali’s organization are also ongoing, while internal developments in SPAK may bring other surprising issues,” Lala said. On the other hand, regarding the investigations into Shpëtim Ali’s organization, the journalist said that the role of a former SP minister is being verified in relation to several transfers abroad. “We also had Shpëtim Ali’s organization that we discussed and spoke about in the studio. However, investigations are also ongoing there regarding the money laundering part. Meanwhile, among the high-ranking officials is a former Socialist Party minister, who is being verified and her role is being looked at in relation to several transfers abroad, but as long as there is no concrete result, I cannot yet speak by name because I need to have something concrete about her, but I can tell you for sure that it is one of the interesting investigations in terms of cooperation with foreign authorities,” journalist Klodiana Lala underlined yesterday.