The High Court has upheld the decision rendered by the District Court of Appeal, thereby confirming the continuation of “Arrest in Custody” for the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj. This ruling mandates that Mr. Veliaj remain detained in the pre-trial facilities located in Durrës.
Erion Veliaj has been under arrest since February 10, 2025, following an extensive investigation initiated by the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Agency (SPAK). The matter involves allegations of widespread corruption. The District Prosecutor’s Office has formally filed thirteen charges against the mayor.
These charges include, but are not limited to, passive corruption, money laundering, failure to declare assets, and abuse of office. According to the findings presented by the SPAK, Veliaj is suspected of illicitly benefiting from financial assets and monetary gains derived from companies that were awarded construction permits or received public funding. The judicial proceedings underscore a significant legal challenge facing the mayor.
The consistent rulings from the various levels of the court system have upheld the detention status. This legal development means that the proceedings against Erion Veliaj will continue under the supervision of the judiciary, pending the resolution of the charges brought by the prosecution.
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This ruling raises serious questions about the due process afforded to political figures in Albania.