Infinity pool overlooking the sea, hydromassage designed after a hotel in Santorini, teak wood for a “yacht-like” atmosphere, gym, sauna and Turkish bath.
Villa 188/1 in “Green Coast”, which in communications administered by SPAK is also identified as “Villa 2” and which the Special Prosecution Office, based on evidence in the investigative file, attributes as actual property to Belinda Balluku.
In one of the emails administered by SPAK, architect Alban Efthimiu sends Balluk a revised version of the project to her personal address, also discussing details of the villa’s luxury. But, beyond the project, materials and costs, one fundamental question remains: who actually owned Villa 188/1?
Top Channel contacted architect Alban Efthimiu to get a stance on the emails exchanged with Belinda Balluku, which are part of the SPAK file, and his role in the project. His response was brief:
“Hello! I’m sorry, but I’m always reserved. With respect.”
Even from “Green Coast”, through Balfin Grup, where Top Channel requested information on this issue, no concrete answer came as to who the client was, as the construction company and the Atellier 4 studio were referred to in the SPAK file emails.
The company stated to Top Channel that it cannot comment on a matter under investigation, even though in the documents published from the SPAK file, Efthimiu directly addressed Balluk about furnishing the villa.
“Green Coast cannot comment on a matter that is currently under investigation. The company has always acted in accordance with the applicable legal framework and remains open and willing to cooperate with any competent public institution…”, the company stated.
Meanwhile, in the SPAK investigation file, Balluku’s name appears in some of the communications about the villa. In another document, for the pool works, the note “POOL ARBER ABAZI (DHERMI) + BELINDA” is found, with a value of 25 thousand euros.
SPAK assesses that this data, obtained together with other evidence administered during the investigation, supports the suspicion that the villa was the actual property of Belinda Balluku, while the ownership documentation was created in the name of Igli Tara.
On September 9, the Special Court accepted SPAK’s request for the imposition of preventive seizure on this property.
Meanwhile, even though corruption charges have been added, SPAK has not yet made a decision on whether or not to approach Parliament to authorize a new security measure for former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.
After the publication of the new facts, the head of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, has accused SPAK of double standards, because authorization for arrest was requested when the charge was for violating equality in tenders and is not requesting a new measure in the current circumstances of the corruption charge.