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| Agricultural University of Tirana Headquarters |
Security Measures and Individuals Implicated
Following suspicions of procurement fraud, the Special Court, acting on SPAK's request, issued 24 security measures targeting two vice-rectors, two professors, and administrative staff at UBT.
Among those implicated, Ilir Kapaj, Vice-Rector for Teaching, and Romina Koto, Vice-Rector for Institutional and Public Relations, along with seven other individuals, have been placed under an obligation to appear before authorities. Notably, Ilir Kapaj is the husband of Deputy Minister of Education Ana Kapaj.
Five individuals have been placed under arrest, while 10 others, including Professors Dritan Laçi and Ilir Kusi, are under house arrest.
Investigative Findings
SPAK's proactive investigations, which involved wiretapping university officials, surveillance by the State Police, and a review of procurement documents, revealed that nine procurement procedures carried out in 2022—amounting to 90,000,000 lekë—were tainted by irregularities.
Names of Those Arrested
Arrested and Imprisoned:
- Edmond Tërthorja
- Amarildo Lleshi
- Mehmet Qoshja
- Altin Murto
- Piro Zoga
Under House Arrest:
- Agim Sefa
- Arjan Buliqi
- Serafin Skënderi
- Ilir Kusi
- Dritan Laçi
- Azem Parllaku
- Artur Koleci
- Radion Dhromi
- Blenard Spaho
- Tedi Proda
Required to Report to Authorities:
- Enkeleida Sallaku
- Klara Jahollari
- Ilir Kapaj
- Erjola Kopali
- Klea Lekocaj
- Romina Koto
- Bejo Bizhga
- Etleva Shore
- Rezearta Dervishi
Fraudulent Procurement Practices
SPAK's findings indicate that members of the procurement unit and evaluation committee at UBT, in collaboration with the university’s administrative head, Edmond Tërthorja, facilitated procurement fraud. They manipulated tenders to favor specific economic operators, including "Krijon" sh.p.k, "Zero Group" sh.p.k, and "Malvina Visoka PF."
Details of the Scheme
University officials allegedly prepared procurement documents in collaboration with preselected economic operators, ensuring their bids would win. These companies submitted falsified economic offers in the names of other businesses, artificially inflating procurement costs without conducting genuine market research.
Further, some procurement procedures were conducted for equipment and goods that had already been delivered to the university months before the tenders were officially opened, indicating premeditated fraud.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
The Special Prosecution has charged those involved with violations of public procurement laws, passive and active corruption, and document forgery. The investigation has uncovered a long-standing pattern of corruption in the university’s procurement processes.
SPAK’s efforts demonstrate an ongoing crackdown on corruption within Albania’s public institutions, emphasizing accountability for high-ranking officials in the education sector. As legal proceedings advance, further developments are expected in this high-profile case.
Government Response and Public Reaction
The Albanian government has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrests, but the case has sparked significant public debate. Transparency and accountability in the country’s higher education system are now under heightened scrutiny. The Ministry of Education is expected to conduct an internal review to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Students and faculty at UBT have expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the investigation and others fearing disruptions to academic operations. Advocacy groups have called for stronger anti-corruption measures in public institutions to restore trust in the education system.
Next Steps in the Investigation
Legal proceedings will continue in the coming weeks, with SPAK emphasizing that further indictments may follow as evidence unfolds. The prosecution is working to secure cooperation from those implicated in hopes of uncovering deeper corruption networks within the education sector.
This case is a landmark moment in Albania’s anti-corruption fight, testing the resilience of legal institutions in holding public officials accountable.