Gerdec defendants at the courts

TIRANA, Sep 29 – The Supreme Court decided Monday that it should be the first instance court to decide on a new status of arrest for the three defendants of the Gerdec March 15 blast which killed 26 persons and injured some 300 others when the ammunition disposal factory exploded.
Prosecutors had asked to prolong the status of arrest of the three defendants _ head of the defense ministry arms export-import company Ylli Pinari, owner of the private company disposing of the ammunition Mihal Delijorgji and his manager Dritan Minxolli.
Prosecutors wanted a new status of arrest after they changed the charge from violation of the rules on explosive devices into that of murder.
Former defense minister Fatmir Mediu, whose parliamentary immunity was lifted some months ago, has also been questioned on the tragedy.
Prosecutors have also said they will ask all the army generals involved in the case, or being aware of that.
Former army chief-of-staff gen. Luan Hoxha was fired from the post in June. The same happened with two other generals in charge of different departments in the army.
It has come out that the army generals have been aware of the work at the disposal factory which they had licensed before it started work.
Albania has more than 90,000 tons of excess ammunition, a problem of main concern while the tiny Balkan country hopes to become a full NATO member next year.