Vlora Appeals Court judge Brikena Ukperaj Lubonja has faced the Independent Qualification Commission (KPK) today as part of her vetting.
The judicial body consisted of Xhensila Pine, Valbona Sanxhaktari and Etleda Çiftja.
Ukperaj is part of a priority vetting list as she has been chosen by lot to be part of the Council of Judicial Nominations (KED).
Ukperaj began her career in 2006, in the Tirana Court. Afterwards, she worked in Lushnja and, from November 2016, she has served as a judge in the Vlora Appeals Court.
According to an analysis of his wealth declarations conducted by BIRN, in 2006, the judge’s wealth was valued at 247,000 lekë. In 2016, the judge’s family wealth has increased by a factor of nearly 31 to reach a 7.7 million lekë value. Ukperaj owns an apartment in the Selita neighborhood in Tirana, valued at approximately €45,000, as well as a car worth one million lekë.
Nearly 70% of the judge’s family income is comprised of her wages, with her husband’s salary making up the remaining 30%.
According to the KPK, Ukperaj didn’t hide her wealth and acquired it through legal means. Also the National Security Agency (DSIK) approved her person. The final verdict is expected on June 25.
Ukperaj is the third potential KED member to face vetting. Those who preceded her, Altina Xhoxhaj and Gentian Trenova, did not pass and were dismissed by KPK.
Nine more potential KED members are set to undergo vetting. If two or more of them end up being dismissed by KPK, a new application round will have to be opened, delaying the formation of the Constitutional Court even further.
