Prosecutors seek 4-year sentence in Vlora mayor’s graft trial

TIRANA, Oct. 7 – Prosecutors have asked an Albanian court to sentence Vlora Mayor Shpetim Gjika to four years in prison in a trial in which he is facing charges of falsifying official documents and abuse of post.
They are also seeking a court order to ban Gjika from holding any public office for three years.
Prosecutors have charged the mayor of Albania’s largest southwestern city of forging the official minutes of two meetings of the Municipal Territorial Adjustment Council to add the approval of two construction permits, which prosecutors say were never discussed during the official meeting.
Next, it is the turn of Gjika’s lawyers to lay out a defense, before a jury of three judges gives out a verdict.
According to prosecutors, the forgery took place with the assistance of another municipal employee, Eleni Dardhaj, who was in charge of keeping the minutes. Prosecutors are also seeking a three-year sentence for Dardhaj.
In addition prosecutors have asked the court to sentence three others involved in the case – representatives of the construction companies who benefited from the permits – to two and two and half years in prison.
Authorities also want to demolish the two buildings because their construction permits were illegally obtained.
Gjika and other people were first charged last October, and the case was moved to a Tirana court at the request of the prosecution moved to Tirana.
Gjika, who was elected under the banner of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has denied any wrongdoing and says he is innocent.
Rama has said he supports Gjika as a person, but he cannot interfere with the judiciary process. He added the new government is set to fight corruption regardless of the political affiliation of the accused.
Fighting corruption remains a key priority for Albania’s goal to join the European Union, and is a top keyword in all international reports monitoring the country.