The Albanian government has decided to give some institutions the right to access and check private bank accounts and safes in the central register to assist them in investigating corruption cases.
The Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK), the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH), the State Intelligence Service, the General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the General Directorate of the State Police are the institutions that will have full access to private bank accounts.
The Council of Ministers has decided to grant limited access to HIDAA, the General Directorate of Taxes, the General Directorate of Customs as well as the tax and tariff directorates at local government units.
According to the decision, the General Directorate of Taxes must guarantee that the register of bank accounts and safes is updated regularly.
SPAK prosecutors or BKH investigators are the only individuals allowed to access and check private bank accounts.
SPAK and BKH will have to submit a request to the Tax Directorate to be provided with an access code to the register of bank accounts.
This will also apply to foreign citizens because, following new immigration rules, every foreign resident applying to reside in Albania must have an Albanian bank account.
