From: Exit Staff
Albanian Police Arrest Socialist MP Charged over Incinerators Affair

Albanian Police have arrested Alqi Bllako, a former Socialist Member of Parliament, after the Special Court against Corruption (GJKKO) approved the arrest warrant.

Yesterday, Bllako resigned his parliamentary seat, opening the way for his arrest after he was charged with corruption for the time he served as a public administration officer.

In Albania, members of parliament have immunity from arrests. A parliamentary committee should convene upon a prosecution request to strip immunity from an MP and the procedure can take several days or weeks, depending on the case.

On Tuesday, the Special Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK) issued an arrest warrant for Bllako, charging him with corruption regarding the Fier waste incinerator.

The charges concern his time as Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment, when he is suspected of having colluded with the former minister Lefter Koka, also under arrest, in embezzling money.

Read more: Socialist MP Charged with Corruption over Incinerators Resigns