Mayors, judge face corruption trials

TIRANA, Jan. 8 – Shpetim Gjika, mayor of southwestern port city of Vlora, who faces charges of corruption, will be tried in a Tirana court. The decision came after the prosecutor’s office in Vlora asked the Supreme Court to make the change as the city did not offer the proper conditions for a normal trial process.
Gjika is accused of falsifying documentation related to construction permits and showing favoritism in public tenders. He has been allowed to continue his duties while the trial takes place.
That hasn’t been the case with another high-profile officiall. The appeals court decided to leave Xhelal Mziu, mayor of Kamza, a Tirana suburb, in prison during the investigation period. Mziu is also accused of abuse with public tenders as head of the municipality.
Gjika and Mziu belong to two opposing political parties נthe governing Socialists and the main opposition Democrats.
The appeals court in Tirana also decided that Shtjefen Lleshi, a judge accused of bribery, was to be released from jail and follow the process under house arrest.