Tirana, October 20 (Albania Journal) – Former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku appeared before Albania’s Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) on Tuesday.
Balluku faces charges of “Violation of the equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,” allegedly committed in cooperation, under Articles 258/2 and 25 of the Albanian Criminal Code. The charge relates to the procurement procedure for the construction of the Llogara Tunnel.
She has also been placed under investigation on suspicion of committing the same criminal offence in connection with seven other public procurement procedures.
These include:
- Completion, coordination and continuation of works on the Sheshi Shqiponja–Tirana River section, Lot 1 and QMT.
- Construction of the Sheshi Shqiponja–New Boulevard road section, Lot 2.
- Construction of the Sheshi Shqiponja–New Boulevard–Shkozë road section, including bridges over the Tirana River.
- Construction of the Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 4.
- Construction of the Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 5.
- Construction of the Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 6.
- Construction of the Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 7.
In addition to the tender-related allegations, Balluku faces charges of “Passive Corruption of Persons Exercising Public Functions,” under Article 259 of the Criminal Code, and “Laundering the Proceeds of a Criminal Offence or Criminal Activity,” allegedly committed in cooperation, under Article 287, paragraph 1(b), and the qualifying circumstance specified in paragraph 2 of the same article.
In an official statement, SPAK also announced that it had secured new evidence related to the tender for Lot 7 of the Tirana Outer Ring Road and a villa in the Green Coast complex in Palasë.
According to the prosecution, the villa is allegedly an asset effectively owned by Balluku but concealed from the authorities.
