 |
| Fran Tuci in his office (archive) |
Former Mayor of Fushë-Arrëz, Fran Tuci, was arrested on Thursday by order of the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) on charges of "abuse of duty" and "destruction of property." In a press release, SPAK stated that the complaint against Tuci was filed by the National Territorial Defense Inspectorate, which found that he had allowed the construction of a new road that destroyed a forest area valued at 234 million leks, local media reports.
"In violation of all the existing legal framework, a new road segment of approximately 1.8 km in length and 5 m in width has been opened, which has affected a considerable area of the forest fund owned by the Municipality and severely damaged the terrain belonging to this forest fund," SPAK's statement said.
BIRN has learned that the intervention took place in 2021, on a road that connects the village of Iballë with the village of Shopel. The new road was a deviation from the existing one that shortened the distance between the two villages, but investigations found that the works, allegedly funded voluntarily by the residents, were carried out without permits, plans, or projects.
Meanwhile, the National Territorial Defense Inspectorate found that the construction of this shortcut road resulted in the destruction of a significant forest area, valued at 234 million lek.
"The estimated damage by the National Territorial Defense Inspectorate in Shkodër, following the on-site inspection, amounts to a considerable value of 234,007,500 lek, which includes damage to the terrain and the encroachment on the registered area near ASHK, Local Directorate of Pukë, as a 'Forest' property owned by the Municipality of Fushë-Arrëz," SPAK's statement said.
SPAK informed that apart from Tuci, who is under investigation with house arrest as a security measure, the former Administrator of the Iballë Administrative Unit, Ndoc Marku, is also under investigation with a security measure of mandatory appearance. The director of the company that carried out the works is also under investigation with a security measure of obligation to appear. The Prosecution Office stated that Tuci, "through actions and omissions contrary to the law," allowed the opening of a new segment of a rural road that had not been authorized by the competent authorities, causing severe damage.