The Tirana court has postponed the hearing on whether the case against former Socialist Party Mayor Valdrin Pjetri should be dismissed or not. He is accused of falsifying documents and not declaring legal issues in Italy relating to drugs.
The judge who was due to preside over the case, Oltiona Hoxha has recused herself from the case and she will be replaced by judge Artan Gjermeni.
Gjermeni is the judge who examined the issue of the transport of EUR 3.4 million in two Toyota Yaris cars. All those involved in the matter are now free. He also sentenced former Democratic Party deputy, Ervin Salianji to one year in prison for making “false allegations” regarding accusations of involvement in drug trafficking against the brother of the PS ex-Minister of the Interior Fatmir Xhafaj. The opposition decried the sentence as politically motivated.
In 2016, Gjermeni was injured in unclear circumstances. He sought treatment at the hospital and doctors notified the police. He was questioned and stated that he had accidentally hurt himself in his garage yet the police found no evidence to substantiate his claims. They did, however, find EUR 20,000 in his car.
After several weeks of investigation into the matter, the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office closed the case.
