TIRANA, August 1 – At the request of the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK), Tirana’s incinerator has been seized, a decision made after the investigations carried out by this authority according to which the company which won the concession for the construction of the incinerator worth 128 million Euros has as owners, businessmen Mirel Mërtiri and Klodian Zoto.
The latter are declared internationally wanted for the incinerators of Fier and Elbasan. Even the former deputy prime minister, Arben Ahmetaj is in an international search for the Elbasan plant.
The investigation has shown that Zoto and Mërtiri are the “de facto” owners of the company “Integrated Energy B.V. SPV” sh.p.k., according to the SPAK announcement released on Monday, as well as the owners of its parent company, established in the Netherlands. “Integrated Energy B.V”, later changed to “Geogenix B.V”.
In order to hide their traces as the real owners of this company, SPAK said that the two businessmen have used other persons and companies.
According to the Special Prosecutor’s Office, Zoto, in cooperation with Mërtiri, have benefited about 4 million Euros from falsified tax invoices.
However, SPAK said that through a third company, called “F.M.O.” s.p.k. Zoto and Mërtiri have bought a real estate, with an area of 611 m2, worth 1 million Euros, in the city of Durrës, which has also been seized.
As for the contract for the Tirana incinerator, SPAK is conducting investigations for several accusations, from “Fraud with serious consequences” in collaboration, “Abuse of duty”, “Passive corruption of high state officials or local elected officials” and “Cleaning the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”. /argumentum.al
