TIRANA, Dec. 20 – The Court of Appeals for Serious Crimes refused Wednesday to review the prosecution’s request for the suspension of three Durres judges who are being investigated for corruption.
Three judges of the Durres Appeals Court, Kliton Spahiu, Petraq Dhimitri and Petrit Ceno, are under investigation for passive corruption by the Serious Crimes Prosecution, suspected of being sponsored on two trips abroad by a businessman who was party to a civil process being examined by them.
The Appeals Court decision not to review the case comes only a few days after the First Instance Court for Serious Crimes dismissed the prosecution’s request for the security measure against three suspects.
Data provided by BIRN from the investigative file shows that the three judges have taken a trip to Spain in October 2014 to watch the Real Madrid – Barcelona football match.
The prosecution suspects that this trip was made in the company of businessman Namik Sadiku — the owner of a resort complex in Durrà«s — and was paid by him.
At the time of travel to Madrid, Sadiku had an open court case at the Durres Appeals Court, where the presider was Judge Spahiu and members of the panel were Petrit Ceno and Petraq Dhimitri. Earlier, it was suspected that the case rapporteur, Kliton Spahiu and Judge Petraq Dhimitri had traveled in Sadiku’s company too.
Judicial conflict relates to the construction of Sadiku’s 10-story hotel at Durres Beach and a dispute with a former associate.
Following the decision of the Court of Appeals, the Prosecution is expected to address the High Council of Justice for the suspension of three judges from office.
