On Thursday, the Independent Qualification Commission (KPK) dismissed Judge Lindita Hoxha of the Shkodra Appeals Court.
The ruling was taken by the vetting body made up of Etleda Çiftja, Valbona Sanxhaktari and Xhensila Pine.
The High Inspectorate of the Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflict of Interest (ILDKPKI) drafted a negative report for the judge, revealing incorrect asset declaration, and lack of documentation justifying her spouse’s income.
The vetting commission found that the judge had failed to declare a loan of about €8,000 for the purchase of an apartment in 2002 for €16,000. They also raised suspicions that she may have purchased the apartment at a lower price than the market value.
Judge Hoxha was found €2,500 short of justifying the payment of an installment for an apartment purchased in Shengjin for €35,400.
The commission assessed that the judge’s husband could not provide income sources for an apartment he had purchased in 2001, before their marriage, for about €4,000.
Judge Hoxha had failed to declare the purchase of a car in 2005 for €2,000. The source for the purchase of another car for €5,000 in 2010 was also not clear.
A financial analysis of the judge’s income and expenses throughout the period 2003-2016 showed a negative balance of €4,500.
Judge Hoxha was positively evaluated regarding her proficiency.
She has worked for 27 years in the justice system. She became a judge in the Shkodra Court of Appeal in 2003.
Judge Hoxha was one of the five judges who in 2019 reviewed the case of Dritan Dajti, the killer of 4 police officers, who had requested a reduction in sentence. She and Judge Fuat Vjerdha voted against lifting his life sentence. However, Dajti was sentenced to 25 years in prison, which makes him eligible to apply for release later.
