TIRANA, June 3 – An Albanian court has sentenced a former mid-level education system official to nine years in prison over a scheme that saw her take thousands of euros from teachers looking to get or keep a job.
It is the first conviction of its kind in recent years, after teachers and other state employees had complained for years political operatives acting as state officials demanded cash and other favors for jobs.
The court in the western city of Lushnja sentenced Lisa Tabaku on June 3, after she pleaded guilty. Tabaku served as the head of the Lushnja Regional Education Department.
The court also gave her son three years and another former official one year for their involvement in the scheme.
Tabaku was charged with corruption as a person exercising a public functions and received a harsher punishment because of aggravating circumstances of repeated offenses, the court said.
The former Education Director was arrested in November last year.
Prosecutors said Tabaku would demand 3,000 to 5,000 euros for each teacher’s position.
There had been reports this type of scheme had been operating around the country for years. Tabaku had been placed in the position by Albania’s ruling Socialist-led coalition.
