The issue of the early release of Lulzim Berisha from jail will be investigated by the Prosecution of Tirana, and no longer the one of Durrës.
Based on the investigation started on December 15, the Prosecution in Durrës suspects that the judges who approved Berisha’s early release committed abuse of office. As the law prohibits the investigation of judges by the prosecution of the same region, the Prosecution in Durrës has declared its incompetence in the issue and passed it to the Prosecution of Tirana.
Lulzim Berisha was arrested in April 2006 and was accused for the murder of five people, dozens of attacks, and the creation of a criminal organization. In 2014 he was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the High Court and released on December 5, 2016.
His early release by the Appeals Court in Durrës caused a big debate, especially because the release was facilitated by a letter of Mayor of Durrës Vangjush Dako (PS) in which he guarantees the leader of the Gang of Durrës employment with the municipality.
The Democratic Party demanded the dismissal of Mayor Dako, while US Ambassador Donald Lu called the early release the result of corruption in the judicial system.
