TIRANA, Sept. 15 – A Tirana court has sentenced a former government minister to 20 months in prison for abuse of funds, the first prison sentence given to a former high government official in recent memory.
Former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Spiro Ksera was also banned from holding public office for five years.
The prosecution had demanded three years in prison for the former minister who faced charges of abuse of office.
Ksera was convicted for abusing state budget funds in the amount of 30 million leks.
He denies the claim. His lawyers said they would appel the verdict.
According to the prosecution, Ksesa appropriated funds earmarked for activities in favor of the Roma community.
Three other ministry officials were also found guilty, with one getting 10 months in jail while the other two probation.
Ksera, a long-serving politician and a member of Albania’s Greek minority community served as a minister in former Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government.
