Postponed timing of the Gerdec investigation

TIRANA, July 30 – Prosecutor General Ina Rama postponed the time period for the investigation of former Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu and two of his military associates on the Gerdec blast after prosecutors found it difficult to complete it on time within three months. Prosecutors have asked the banks and other institutions to bring the evidence on the property of the three persons.
Mediu resigned two days after the March 15 blast which killed 26 and injured 300 persons.
Rama first said he would be held responsible for abuse of post for the way he had behaved in allowing the private AlbDemil company install its disposal factory in Gerdec, less than 15 kilometers from capital Tirana. The parliament lifted Mediu’s immunity leaving the way open to the prosecutors to charge him, probably of negligence. But that has not been done yet.
But prosecutors are finding it very difficult to get all the evidence on Mediu’s property from the banks in the country. Mediu has denied bearing any legal or formal responsibility for the blast adding that his resignation showed he felt moral responsibility. Prosecutors have also to ask many witnesses and their number is so big that three months have not been enough to complete their questioning, thus they will have three more months to continue their job. (Tirana Times Staff)