Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Damian Gjiknuri has filed a lawsuit at the Prosecution of Serious Crimes against former director of the Albanian Road Authority (ARrSh) Dashamir Xhika and two other officials for the abuse of funds for the Tirana–Elbasan highway project.
Xhika, former project manager Aksel Qurduka, and Albens Alite, current project manager of the highway project are accused of causing around $54 million in losses to the state. The lawsuit follows an audit of ARrSh concerning the implementation of the project to construct the Tirana–Elbasan highway.
The lawsuit follows the policy of the government to oust and if possible prosecute officials nominated by its former coalition partner LSI. Xhika had been nominated by the LSI and handed in his resignation in September 2017.
During the electoral campaign, while still in function, Xhika was investigated by the prosecution for vote buying. In 2016 the State Supreme Audit Institution filed another lawsuit against Xhika for causing financial losses of 634 million lekë through “unjustified procurement or favorization of road construction companies.”
