Albanian judge performs 'fashion show' in Court and office, investigations on 'violation of the code of ethics violations' begins

The Elbasan Court chief Enkeleda Kapedani

 The High Inspector of Justice in Albania, Artur Metani, announced today that he has ordered the start of a disciplinary investigation against the head of the Court of Elbasan, Enkeleda Kapedani, after the publication of some of her video recordings on the Tik-Tok platform.

In these videos,  Kapedani appears walking like a fashion show in the corridors of the court and in her office. In the background of one of the video recordings is heard the melody of an Albanian song entitled "Mafia".

The video recordings, which were shared on social media, prompted the Inspector General to immediately launch an investigation into "violations of the magistrate's code of ethics."

The Minister of Justice, Etilda Gjonaj, also reacted to this event. She described as "inappropriate" the performances of Judge Kapedani and stressed that since December 2019 she had requested that measures be taken against this judge, after the release of a criminal entity.

"It is unfortunate that since December 2019, I have written to the HJC to verify and take measures for it, after the release of a criminal entity. "Now I wish that not only the right measure be taken, but also that the property situation of this judge is thoroughly investigated", said Minister Gjonaj in her reaction.

The President of the Court of Elbasan appears in the video recordings posted in Tik-Tok also advertising her expensive clothes, of famous fashion houses, and driving an expensive luxury vehicle.

Judge Kapedani said that she feels bad for the publication of video recordings, which, according to her, were made with the intention of spoiling her image. She stressed that "no insinuation or confrontation" will influence her work.

"Neither as an individual nor as a judge, I am proud of the published videos. I hope this attack is not against me because I am a woman and a mother. While apologizing to anyone who has felt bad from those videos. I want to emphasize strongly that no insinuation or slander will influence me to give justice and work honestly, as until today", said Kapedani.