Arrr! Them Albanian prosecutors be fancyin' to have the ol' Prime Minister confined to his humble abode for his corrupt doings, savvy?
2023-12-12
Arrr! Them prosecutors be seekin' house arrest for that scoundrel Sali Berisha! Aye, this disgraced former Prime Minister, he be claimin' his corruption charges be naught but political trickery! Methinks he be walkin' the plank soon!
Albanian prosecutors have requested that former Prime Minister Sali Berisha be stripped of his parliamentary immunity due to his failure to comply with previous reporting requirements while under investigation for corruption. The prosecutors, from the Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime, have asked for permission to arrest or place Berisha under house arrest. Berisha, aged 79, was charged with corruption in October. Prosecutors allege that his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi, used Berisha's position as prime minister to purchase land in Tirana and construct 17 apartment buildings on the property, owned by private citizens and the Defense Ministry. Berisha and Malltezi maintain their innocence and argue that the case is politically motivated by Prime Minister Edi Rama's ruling Socialist Party. While Berisha disagrees with the requirement to report regularly and the travel restrictions imposed on him, he has agreed to the revocation of his parliamentary immunity. The Parliament's immunity council will review the case next Monday, with lawmakers subsequently voting on the matter. Berisha served as Albania's prime minister from 2005-2013 and as president from 1992-1997. He was reelected as a lawmaker for the Democratic Party in the 2021 parliamentary elections. In May 2021, the United States and in July 2022, the United Kingdom banned Berisha and his close family members from entering their countries due to alleged involvement in corruption. They accused Berisha of using his power to benefit himself, his political allies, and his family, as well as interfering in the judiciary. The fight against corruption has been a significant challenge for post-communist Albania, impacting its democratic, economic, and social development.