TIRANA, Feb. 21 – The former director of the Bureau of Prisons, Artur Zoto, was arrested Tuesday on corruption charges, justice officials said.
The former official was arrested following an order of the High Crimes Court.
Prosecutors had been investigating Zoto after the arrest of his deputy Iljaz Labi on corruption charges led them to the former director.
Zoto, who is now facing charges of “passive corruption,” resigned from the job earlier.
Prosecutors suspect corruption was involved in the approval of a food supply tender for prisons.
Prosecutors said they have a series of recordings that back up the claim for Zoto’s involvement in a graft scheme with a food supply company.
Transcripts of these recordings, reveal that Zoto was aware of the dealings that his deputy was making with food supply providers, and that Labi did not make any deals without the prior approval of Zoto.
Four business owners, Elidjan Laskaj, Ylber Kalaja, Shemsi Sinani and Nexhmi Balla were arrested on similar charges four days ago.
After these arrests, the prisons highest official resigned arguing that he was leaving the job due to personal reasons.
