The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has launched an investigation for abuse of office against former Minister of Defense Fatmir Mediu over the 2008 explosion at an ammunition factory in Gerdec, near Tirana, that left 26 people dead.
SPAK announced the decision on Thursday, following a previous ruling by the Special Appeals Court against Corruption and Organized Crime that opened the way for re-investigations.
Mediu was under investigation for the deadly explosion in 2008, but the case against him was closed in 2009 by the High Court, when he was reelected member of parliament and obtained immunity.
The family of one of the children killed by the explosion asked SPAK to relaunch investigations into the former minister.
In its rejection of SPAK’s request in July, the first instance court argued that Mediu’s immunity had lapsed in 2012, and there were no other obstacles to prosecutors launching an investigation. In addition, it said no new evidence was presented against Mediu.
SPAK appealed the decision, and in September 2021 the appeals court revoked the previous ruling and opened the way for prosecutors to launch a fresh investigation.
In 2013, the court sentenced 20 people to prison for a number of charges in relation to the explosions, including public officials and the management of the involved companies.
In 2017, it declared the Ministry of Defense responsible for the explosion.
