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Unlicensed complex in Dhërmi/ Police "pardon" businessman Claudio Rico of "Olea", arrest engineer
2025-08-03 13:03:21 / AKTUALITET
The construction company "Halisof", owned by Claudio Rico, best known for building the 'Olea' tourist complex in the Dhërmi area, has been caught red-handed carrying out unauthorized works for another resort, also in the same area, named the "Veil" project.
On June 5, 2025, the Vlora Police found that works in this tourist village were being carried out without the permission of the Himara Municipality. As has happened before with the strategic investor company "Soleil & Sea", in the case of "Halisof" shpk, the police, faced with this illegality, have hit the weakest link.
The engineer in charge of the works, Ilir Zh, was arrested. The engineer explained that he received all the documentation and orders for the works from the administrator and owner of "Halisof" shpk, Claudio Rico.
But, initially, the police, and later the prosecution and court, only applied the penalties to the 50-year-old engineer, without going further, to the managers and at the same time the orderers of the unauthorized works.
Ilir Zh. was placed under the security measure of "house arrest" by the Vlora court on June 6, 2025, under suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of "Illegal Construction" for profit purposes, despite the fact that his "only benefit" was his salary at the "Halisof" company.
At the meeting of January 28, 2025, the National Council for Territory and Water (KKTU), under the leadership of Prime Minister Edi Rama, also had on the agenda the item: "Development Permit for the facility: "The Veil" - Complex with residential and hotel function, located in Dhërmi, Himara Municipality, with the development company "Halisoft" sh.pk and "Maurea" sh.pk".
From a verification conducted by "Boldnews.al" at the time of publication of this article, the decision is still unclear. However, according to statements given to the police by the arrested engineer, it appears that the permit was approved by the Council headed by the head of government, Rama, and that it concerns the construction of villas and other hotel structures on the Ionian coast.
The official website of the company “Halisof” provides few details about the project “The Veil”. The construction company says that “the project takes its name from the shells of The Veil, so unique in shape and in harmony with the colors of the earth”.
But, while "Halisof" shpk refers to the land with romantic notes, it seems that it has not respected the legislation in its protection. At least, this is what the Vlora Police have ascertained during the inspection activity.
Police officers, accompanied by inspectors from the Vlora Territory Protection Inspectorate, have discovered that the company "Halisof" has started work on the "The Veil" resort without being provided with a construction permit from the Municipality of Himara, and even without having yet received the decision of the Rama KKT for the relevant development permit.
Engineer Ilir Zh. stated before the investigative group that he was employed by the company "Halisof" by its owner and administrator, Claudio Rico.
He says that work has begun in Dhërmi, specifically in the place where the constructions were found by the police officers. "In this place, the company "Halisof" has received a development permit for the construction of a residential complex that includes residential buildings, villas and a hotel. Works on this land area began precisely in February 2025."
According to him, before the start of the works on their part, "there was soil and inert materials dumped in this territory. This territory served as a landfill for the disposal of construction waste and inert materials from the Gjikuria entity."
The engineer says he has no knowledge of the previous ownership of this land and explains that he is an implementer of projects for the company he works for. He was given the task by his employer to prepare the land where the residence will be built according to the development permit.
To his knowledge, the construction permit for the residence in question is pending. The development permit provides for the preparation of the site where the project will be built according to the construction permit. The works identified are preparatory works contained in the development permit.
He further explained that surface excavations are excavations for the removal and cleaning of previously dumped waste. The silos are demountable and temporary because upon completion of the project construction they will be dismantled and removed. They will serve as dormitories for workers who will work on the site, canteens, workshops and offices for engineers.
"A notice of completion of these works was sent to the Himara Municipality, signed by the administrator of the entity "Halisof", citizen Claudio Rico," the engineer who was arrested in flagrante delicto by the Police further says.
After evaluating the evidence and documents presented by the Vlora Prosecution Office, Judge Bevil Beqiraj has imposed the security measure "house arrest" for the "Halisof" engineer, Ilir Zh.
In the decision obtained by “Boldnews.al”, the judge states: “…From the overall assessment of the evidence, it results that there is a suspicion that the person under investigation, in his capacity as an implementation engineer/construction technician, has allowed the performance of works for which a construction permit is required, without yet having the Construction Permit Document. The works consist of works of the first phase foreseen in the Development Permit, which in the Court's assessment cannot begin before being provided with the Permit Document”./ Boldnews.al
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