Court clears Vlora mayor in graft case

TIRANA, Nov. 11 – A Tirana Court has ruled Vlora Mayor Shpetim Gjika is innocent, ending a trial in which he was facing four years in prison on charges of falsifying official documents and abuse of post.
The court has also cleared of charges two city employees accused of aiding Gjika.
Prosecutors had charged the mayor of Albania’s largest southwestern city of forging the official minutes of two meetings of the Municipal Territorial Adjustment Council to add the approval of two construction permits, which prosecutors say were never discussed during the official meeting.
Authorities also wanted to demolish the two buildings because their construction permits were illegally obtained — a move the court did not grant.
Gjika and other people were first charged last October, and the case was moved to a Tirana court at the request of the prosecution moved to Tirana.
Gjika, who was elected under the banner of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, denied any wrongdoing and says he is innocent.