TIRANA, June 20 – Albania’s Independent Qualification Commission, the institution dealing with the re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors under the justice reform and vetting process, decided on Wednesday to dismiss Court of Appeals Prosecutor Gentian Trenova.
Irregularities with Trenova’s wealth were the main reason behind the decision, although the IQC identified at least two cases where Trenova had interrupted investigations on a suspected corrupt prosecutor and suspected drug dealer.
The IQC had raised serious doubts on Trenova’s wealth since its last meeting, which were accompanied by harsh remarks by the International Monitoring Operation representative Teo Jakobs, who closely followed the process.
On the other hand, Trenova’s lawyer questions the standards on which, according to him, the IQC operates.
Trenova also belongs to the Council of Appointments in Justice member list – another justice reform body that risks being blocked as another of its members is being ousted during the vetting process, while prosecutor Rovena Gashi has been suspended from office.
So far, at least six judges and prosecutors have not been able to qualify through the re-evaluation process. In almost all cases, the main reason was inability to properly justify the wealth accumulated through the years in the profession.
