FLASH NEWS
BIRN: Constitutional Court holds the fate of the criminal case against Belinda Balluku in its hands
2026-03-17 10:44:03 / POLITIKË
Former head of the Albanian Anti-Corruption Commission (ARRSH), Evis Berberi, has challenged the legality of SPAK's evidence, including his telephone communications, in the Constitutional Court. If successful, the decision will not only affect Berberi's case, but will also put at risk the files of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and the mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci.
The Constitutional Court has been in the spotlight in recent months due to its decision to suspend former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku from office. But another case is being considered in the shadows, the decision of which risks deciding the fate of three sensational files, including that of Ms. Balluku.
The former director of the Albanian Road Authority, Evis Berberi, addressed the Constitutional Court on October 25, 2025 with a request to annul as incompatible with the Constitution a decision of the Supreme Court, which left in force his measure of "prison arrest" imposed by the Special Court in March 2024.
With the request to the Constitutional Court, Berberi also attacks the legality of the seized evidence, including communications on his phones, from which data for three important files with dozens of accused people was generated.
The seizure of Berber's mobile phone turned into a "mine" of information for the Special Prosecution Office over the last two years, from which criminal proceedings have been registered against Berber, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, and the Mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci.
Berberi is accused of criminal offenses of corruption, violation of equality in tenders, and money laundering through the creation of a scheme of companies controlled by him, which benefits from public funds.
Based on telephone communications with Berber, former Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, is also accused of repeatedly violating equality in tenders related to the costly Llogara tunnel projects, the Tirana Grand Ring Road tenders, and the Thumanë-Kashar road concession.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci, has been sent to trial for violating equality in a tender while he was running the Albanian Electric Power Corporation.
On March 5, the Constitutional Court held a plenary session on the basis of documents related to Berber's request, where his lawyer and SPAK prosecutors presented their arguments.
The request filed by Berberi before the Constitutional Court has created concerns for the Special Prosecution Office, especially regarding the part related to the legality of the evidence.
Prokuroria e Posaçme nuk pranoi të komentonte zyrtarisht, por një burim në dijeni të çështjes i tha BIRN se Gjykata Kushtetuese kishte tashmë në dorë fatin e mëtejshëm të tre procedimeve penale ndaj zyrtarëve të lartë.
“Në rast se provat çmohen të papërdorshme, atëherë do të rrezikohen akuzat për afro 40 të pandehur, përfshirë edhe akuzat ndaj Ballukut, Becit dhe Berberit,” tha burimi.
Avokati i ish-kreut të ARRSH, Gentian Romano i tha BIRN se nuk kishte asnjë koment për të bërë lidhur me kërkesën dhe pretendimet e ngritura në Gjykatën Kushtetuese.
Precedentët e Gjykatës Kushtetuese në lidhje me kërkesën e bërë nga Berberi janë të përzierë. Ndërkohë që Kushtetuesja ka rrëzuar në përgjithësi kërkesat për shfuqizimin e masave të arrestit për zyrtarët e lartë, në një rast, gjykata i dha të drejtë një ankueseje për sekuestrimin e telefonit të saj në kuadër të procedimit penal ndaj ish.zv.kryeministrit Arben Ahmetaj.
Në faqen online të Gjykatës Kushtetuese nuk gjendet ndonjë e dhënë për seancën e radhës që do të zhvillohet për këtë çështje, por burime të gjykatës i thanë BIRN se vendimarrja pritet të shpallet javën e ardhshme./BIRN
Happening now...
Blaming Gaz Bardhi for the statutory changes
Nga Namir Lapardhaja
ideas
The Statute Review and Berisha's Sinking Boat
Nga Alesia Balliu
Will the new justice system unite the SP and the DP?
Nga Arbër Hitaj
Sovereignty as a fig leaf
Nga Namir Lapardhaja
top
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128