Former Albanian president arrested on corruption charges

(CLO) Former Albanian President Ilir Meta has been arrested by police on corruption charges, according to information from his lawyer on Monday.

Mr. Meta, 55, served as president from 2017 to 2022 and currently leads the opposition Freedom Party. As he was returning to the capital, Tirana, from Kosovo, police stopped his car, according to video footage. Police said they were forced to use force to arrest him.

Albanian President Ilir Meta speaks during a press conference in Tirana, Albania, June 10, 2019. Photo: REUTERS/Florion Goga

Albania, one of Europe's poorest countries, has been plagued by political difficulties and corruption since the early 1990s. These problems have hampered the country's efforts to join the European Union (EU).

"Mr. Meta is charged with passive corruption, failure to declare assets and money laundering," Mr. Meta's lawyer Genc Gjokutaj said after meeting his client.

Mr. Meta has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer also asserted that the charges were politically motivated ahead of the parliamentary elections in April.

Mr Meta's ex-wife, Monika Kryemadhi, also said on Facebook that she was facing similar allegations and was required to report to police regularly, calling it a "farce".

According to a statement from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SPAK), which filed the charges, when Mr. Meta was still Economy Minister, he earned "a significant amount of money" from a debt collection deal for a foreign company.

In addition, Meta and Ms. Kryemadhi are also said to have made money from a deal with a telecommunications company. During their time as Speaker of the National Assembly, Meta and Kryemadhi, who was also a lawmaker at the time, received a villa from a businessman in exchange for help, including amending laws in the parliament.

Other allegations include illegal payments to a US lobbying firm, the purchase of a €335,000 apartment, and failing to declare more than €100,000 in costs for medical services at private clinics.

Local media also reported that two other people linked to Meta and Kryemadhi have also been charged.

Mr. Meta, who served as prime minister and speaker of the National Assembly, is not the only opposition figure to face criminal charges. Last month, Sali Berisha, the leader of the largest opposition group, the Democratic Party, was also indicted on corruption charges.

The Democratic Party has accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of carrying out political “revenge”, which he denies. Rama has been in power since 2013 and plans to run for a fourth term next year.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/former-president-of-albania-is-accused-of-corruption-post317856.html