The investigation, launched last October, alleges that Berisha abused his position to help his son-in-law, Jamarbër Malltezi, privatize public land in Tirana to build an apartment complex. Berisha was placed under house arrest in December after violating the requirement to report to the police every two weeks.
The Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption (SPAK) has now formally indicted both men, presenting 500 pages of evidence to support charges of "passive corruption" against Berisha, according to court documents obtained by OCCRP. Malltezi has been charged with corruption and money laundering.
Berisha called the accusations "lies" and described the case as politically motivated, aimed at undermining the leadership of the Democratic Party, of which he is chairman.
Prosecutors, however, believe they can prove that, during his time as prime minister, Berisha repeatedly amended laws concerning property return, compensation, and sports regulations, which enabled the privatization of the "Partizani" sports complex by Malltezi.
This is not the first time Berisha has faced corruption allegations. In 2021, the United States sanctioned him for suspected corruption and abuse of power. A year later, the United Kingdom declared him persona non grata for alleged links to organized crime and corruption, accusations he denies.
In response, Berisha initiated legal proceedings in London, challenging the U.K.'s decision and claiming the entry ban was based on false and unproven allegations.