According to the Special Prosecution Office, traces of this scheme appear in some of the most coveted areas of the country, from construction projects in Tirana to tourist complexes on the southern coast.
The communications mention negotiations with Turkish citizens, agreements still pending, and, what is quite impressive, planned visits to Zvërnec to view properties of development interest.
These revelations constitute the moment when SPAK opens an investigation into the manner in which the properties in Zvërnec were acquired, which has today become the most sensitive issue in the country. In fact, the issue from which the protests that have been going on for weeks in Tirana and capitals around the world where the Albanian community is located originated…
‘For the property with no. 262, Cadastral Zone 1007, the decision of the Court of Appeal, which served to register the property, was overturned by the High Court and during the civil trial, the use of forged documents in order to gain ownership was proven, specifically the document “Daimit’s Register of the year 1318, serial No. 47, issued by the Central Archive with letter no. 2195/3 dated 14 Ottoman Calendar, issued from page 126, V 1318, D.17, fl. 137-139 presented by citizen Pëllumb Petritaj, should not be considered as true and is not taken into account as evidence’ the investigative file.
“The criminal offense of forgery itself, and we are talking about concrete cases that serve as an instrument to achieve the goal, namely the acquisition of wealth through forgery, or even the purification of the product through forgery,” said lawyer Dritan Jahja.
“If it is proven that the documents with which ownership was obtained are forged documents, it means that the ultimate owner must always return to the state. And the state can establish the sales contracts it has with third parties, but by taking the benefits of these contracts,” said lawyer Rezart Kthupi.
According to investigations, there are suspicions that some of these assets owned by Artur Shehu were obtained based on manipulated documentation.
“The assets have been alienated through various legal actions with the aim of concealing their origin and making it difficult to trace them.”
Investigators describe a mechanism where property was created on paper, artificially expanded, and then passed from one hand to another until it lost track of its origins.
“The investigations have resulted in reasonable suspicions based on evidence that the assets located in Zvërnec were obtained illegally, through forgeries and the use of forged documents for the recognition and registration of ownership.”
Referring to SPAK, the decrypted communications on Sky ECC reveal a series of conversations directly related to movements in the Zvërnec area and the way these properties are managed.
In one of the communications, Adrian Rama talks to Alfredo Hamzai about a visit to Vlora and Zvërnec, where several people would go to see the properties up close.
Rama: “Vila is telling me that you should be in Vlora on Sunday or Monday… go to Zvërnec to see those properties with a dinghy… some friends are coming…”
Hamzai: “He’ll call you himself… he said he’ll come and hang out with you… Klodi… ok brother.”
In another communication from the same period, discussions appear about land prices and interest in investments in the area.
Rama: “Cpb brother… he talked about Zvërnec about the price of land… don’t say anything to him… they’re calling me… they’re asking about the price of land…”
Rama: “They talked about a price for Palasa and Zvërnec… who is giving a price now… let’s not bluff…”
According to SPAK, these communications indicate that the discussions were not limited to field visits, but also included determining land values and the orientation of future investments.
Other conversations conducted by investigators also mention the engagement of various individuals to bring investors and foreign individuals to closely inspect properties in Zvërnec, treating the area as a coordinated development object.
“The meeting itself does not constitute a criminal offense, but it must be channeled into investigative actions, what was achieved, what is being done, and what actions the organizers of this group have taken after this meeting. So, it may happen that a criminal offense is committed in time, but it must be proven that this criminal or illegal action came as a result of organizing this meeting,” said lawyer Dritan Jahaj.
In this episode of the investigation alone, three transactions related to the sale and purchase of land in Zvërnec have been blocked, with a value reaching around 128 million euros, money that, according to investigators, was at risk of entering circulation through development projects and investments in real estate.
Precisely for this reason, in addition to the arrest warrants, SPAK imposed a seizure on one of the most controversial chapters of the Albanian coast. An area where, according to the file, the value of the land is not measured only by what it has on the surface, but also by the millions it is suspected of being able to absorb and legitimize through investments.
Inside Story learns that regarding this matter, SPAK continues to conduct intensive investigations to identify other suspected persons who have been subject to checks.
According to information, searches were carried out in the homes and offices of well-known businessmen, former justice officials and magistrates, as well as various officials.
“All acts related to the acquisition of ownership, especially of immovable property, in this case we are talking about apartments and everything that is embodied, follow a very strict legal path. Which means they must go through the documentary side, they must go through a notary account, so tracking all these papers and money that lead to the acquisition of ownership is much simpler than in other cases when it comes to transfers or transfers of monetary amounts,” said lawyer Rezart Kthupi.
In addition to expanding their investments in the South, the grandchildren of Miri i Xhike, together with Artur Shehu, have also appeared in land interests in Tirana. Very close to the “Arena Kombëtare” stadium, in one of the most expensive areas of the capital, SPAK claims that the group had been moving for years to take control of another strategic plot of land on “Dervish Hima” street, near the “Air Albania” stadium.