The Court against Corruption and Organized Crime sentenced 11 people to prison for appropriating land in the coastal town of Shengjin in Lezhe.
In addition, it ordered the confiscation of assets worth 55 million euros owned by the convicts. The appropriated land will be administered by state institutions, according to reports from the court.
Prison sentences were handed as follows:
- Xhevi Ndoka – 6.8 years in prison;
- Mimoza Ndoka – 1.4 years in prison, suspended sentence;
- Emanuel Gjura – 4.8 years in prison;
- Zef Lazri – 8 months in prison;
- Blendi Ndoka – 3.6 years in prison;
- Luigj Paloka – 4.8 years in prison, suspended sentence;
- Paulin Simoni – 3.4 years in prison;
- Vlash Gaxulli – 2 years in prison, suspended sentence;
- Genc Zeneli – 2 years in prison, suspended sentence;
- Kol Lleshi – 2 years in prison, suspended sentence;
- Marjeta Perskura -1.4 years in prison, suspended sentence.
The group of officials carrying out criminal offences of land appropriation was discovered through the wiretapping of people suspected to be part of a drug-trafficking gang based in Durres, who also appear in wiretaps of Albanian Electiongate. Former Socialist MP Arben Ndoka was also arrested in relation to the crime but was later released.
Read more: Court Frees Former Socialist MP Arben Ndoka from House Arrest
