Businessman Ilir Shtufi, arrested in Greece on behalf of SPAK, refuses to be extradited to Albania. The 53-year-old appeared before the Thessaloniki Court today for the security measure process with the aim of extradition between Interpol Athens and Tirana.
According to Greek media, it will be the competent Judicial Council that will decide on the extradition of the businessman arrested in Thessaloniki, in connection with the accusation of money laundering and drug trafficking. Shtufi is the builder of several towers in Tirana, among them the skyscraper that will be called “Tirana Mountain”. Some time ago, Shkelzen Berisha, the son of the former prime minister of the country who is accused by SPAK of passive corruption for the privatization of the Partizani complex, has stated that he lives in rent in Ilir Shtufi’s villa in Rolling Hills.
Renowned lawyer Idajet Beqiri stated that Shkëlzen Berisha provided construction permits to businessman Ilir Shufi, while according to the lawyer, they collaborated with each other to launder dirty money in the construction sector.
“He and he post the acts that stem from a crime. The billions that they secure from serious corrupt affairs, they launder somewhere. Shkëlzen Berisha has Ilir Shtufi as his main partner for laundering money that comes from illegal sources. He provides construction permits to Shkëlzen Berisha and to launder money and to get his share. Shkëlzen Berisha should be arrested. Together with Ilir Shtufi, they trafficked cocaine,” he said.
He also touched on the “non grata” issue of Sali Berisha. He defended the idea that Sali Berisha, even though he confirmed “the removal of the black mark,” cannot travel to the US, as he risks being arrested for the crimes he committed.
“He should only get a one-way ticket, because there is no return. It is not even discussed and this is not for show. Let him go, why doesn’t he go? He can never go, because the crimes he has committed, both international and domestic, are not over, but he will be held accountable,” he said.