Albanian defense ministry officials, businessmen arrested for corruption

TIRANA, May 4 – Two
Defense Ministry officials and
two businessmen were arrested
and accused with corruption in
connection with the Gerdec
tragedy and other actions.
The four, including an army
colonel, were accused of
“corruptive actions … in managing
military goods.”
No additional details were
released, however, a statement
said other people were also being
investigated.
Last week, the Prosecutor-
General’s office asked Parliament
to lift the immunity of
former defense minister Fatmir
Mediu, accusing him of abuse
of power, as part of an inquiry
into the explosions.
In the March 15 disaster, a
series of explosions at an ammunition
disposal factory near
Tirana killed 26 people, injured
302 and destroyed or damaged
some 5,500 houses.
Mediu, leader of the Republican
Party, which is part of the
governing coalition who has
denied wrongdoing, is expected
to have his parliamentary immunity
lifted later this month.
The Socialist-led opposition
has accused the government of
corruption in the disposal of
obsolete weapons, and urged
Prime Minister Sali Berisha to
resign.
About 100,000 tons of excess
ammunition, mostly Russian
and Chinese artillery shells
made in the 1960s or earlier, are
stored in former army depots
across Albania. (Tirana Times Staff)