All accused members of the criminal organization “Revenge for Justice” have today been sentenced not guilty by the Appeals Court of Serious Crimes.
This sentence became possible after the High Court decided a few months ago to send the case back to the Appeals Court.
The members of the criminal group were accused of several serious crimes, including the placement of a bomb at the supermarket of Vefa, the murder of prison director Bujar Kaloshi, the murder of the driver of Chief Prosecutor Theodhori Sollaku, and the robbery of several banks.
Altin Arapi, Orik Shyti, Leart Shyti, Roland Shyti, Gent Caka, Dritan Hata, Pasho and Nikolin Mevruzaj, Kreshnik Spahiu, and Gëzim Gjoni had previously been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 5 years till life.
The criminal organization was directed by the two brothers Leart and Orik Shyti. They are currently in Belgium, where they have received asylum, Also the other members of the group are outside the country. They escaped during 1997 when the prisons were opened. The court case against this organization has started in 1998.
The full list of crimes committed between 1993 and 1996 for which the members of “Revenge for Justice” have been accused, and now have been acquitted, is as follows:
- Murder of former prison director Bujar Kaloshi;
- Murder of Sami Jata;
- Murder of J.K., who transported money from the Vefa fund to his house, theft of 18.5 million lekë;
- Placement of explosives in the supermarket of Vefa in Tirana, killing four people and wounding 17 others;
- Robbery of the foreign currency branch of the Savings Bank, stealing $307,000;
- Robbery of IAP, stealing $53,000;
- Robbery of Shkumbin Petrol, stealing 2.6 million lekë;
- Robbery of IAP, stealing $3,500 and wounding the guard, Eduard Trimi;
- Murder of Pal Prendi from Vlora, employee of Gjallica, stealing 3 million lekë;
- Robbery of a jeweller, stealing 576,000 lekë;
- Robbery of the Vlora branch of the Savings Bank, stealing 2.6 million lekë;
- Robbery of insurance company INSIG, stealing 156,000 lekë and wounding an employee;
- Robbery of the company Burongas in Tirana, stealing 430,000 lekë;
- Robbery of the Albafon factory in Lapraka, stealing 940,000 lekë;
- Abduction of a child, demanding $200,000 from its parents;
- Robbery of the Vlora branch of Vega, stealing $145,000;
- Robbery of the BKT Bank in Vlora, stealing 2.2 million lekë.
