Former Albanian PM Indicted for Corruption

Prosecutors opened last October an investigation suspecting that the former prime minister abused his position to hasten to the return of land in Tirana, that was confiscated by the communist regime, to his son-in-law Jamarbër Malltezi and other families and build an apartment complex there. Berisha was put under house arrest in December because he violated the requirement to report to the police every two weeks.

Officials from the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption (SPAK) have now formally indicted the two, offering 500 pages of evidence that they hope will prove Berisha is guilty of  “passive corruption,” according to court documents obtained by OCCRP. Malltezi has been indicted with corruption and money laundering

Berisha called the accusation “lies” and described the case as politically motivated and designed to “target the leadership of the Democratic Party,” of which Berisha is chairman.

However, prosecutors believe that they can prove that during his time as prime minister, Berisha intervened multiple times to amend laws regarding the return and compensation of properties, as well as the sports law, which facilitated the privatization of the "Partizani" sports complex by Malltezi.

This is not the first time Berisha has been accused of corruption. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United States on suspicions of corruption and abuse of executive power.

A year later, the leader of the Democratic Party was declared persona non-grata by the United Kingdom due to alleged links with organized crime and corruption, accusations which he denies.

In response, he launched a legal process in London, appealing the decision, arguing that his entry into the U.K. was denied based on false and unproven claims.

Albanian prosecutors have indicted former Prime Minister and opposition leader Sali Berisha on corruption charges related to a property deal involving his son-in-law. Berisha denies any wrongdoing and claims the case is politically motivated.

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.

Note: this version clarifies that former PM Berisha and his son-in-law stand accused of influencing the law that returned or compensated owners of land expropriated by the former communist regime which allowed the sports complex in question to be privatized, rather than directly playing a part in the privatization of the sports complex.