TIRANA, Dec. 11 – It was revealed on Monday the US offshore company Dunwell Haberman already under investigation in Albania and the US after winning the bid for constructing part of Tirana’s new Great Ring, also won on Oct. 31 another 11.7 million euro government tender for the construction of a 220 kV electric line from Burrel to Peshkopia.
Only active in Albania since July 2018 through its branch DH Albania, it remains unclear how the offshore company that has forged US documents and signatures managed to win two government tenders with a total value of almost 30 million euros.
The plot of the story thickened when, after TV show The Unexposed revealed the company had falsified its foundation act and the Delaware Secretary of State signature, Albanian media found out the head of DH Albania is 26-year-old Avdjol Dobi, with no previous experience in construction or company management.
Media investigation further revealed Dobi, from Albania’s Southern Vlora, where the company’s headquarters also were, rented an office for DH Albania in one of Tirana’s most expensive and central business offices after winning both tenders.
Similar with the New Ring case, the company turns out to have used forged documents again. Head of Albania’s Transmission System Operator (OST) Klodian Gradeci, told the Voice of America that after watching The Unexposed he had immediately requested US authorities to make verification and it was revealed, among others, that the Apostle Stamp used for all documents, including licenses, is forged.
Gradeci explained he has terminated the contract with DH Albania and that he has also referred to the prosecution, which has begun its independent investigations,while the OST immediately announced a new race for the Burrel-Peshkopi electric line.
It still remains unclear how a company which based its entire activity on forgery managed to win two major government bids without any sort of investigation of its illegal activity.
Minister of Energy and Industry Damian Gjiknuri said he is expecting a prompt reply from the US, which is conducting its own investigation after being made aware of the company’s activities, and that authorities have suspended works until further notice.
According to Gjiknuri, if the US also approved the documents are forged the company’s financial guarantee will be sequestered and the case will be referred to the relevant justice bodies.
The guarantee value amounts to approximately 2.2 million euros according to the ministry.
Dunwell Haberman is registered in the state of Delaware, US. News 24 show The Unexposed revealed, after cooperating with state authorities, the company was founded in June 2018 and not 20 years ago, as its submitted documents claimed.
Meanwhile, the Delaware Secretary of State Office confirmed to the Voice of America it has begun investigations on Dunwell Haberman and its officials to see whether they have been involved in illegal activities, fraud or forgeries.
