April 2, 2025
The Head of the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), Mr. Altin Dumani, in exercising the powers of the Public Commissioner, authorized Mr. Klodjan Braho, serving as Prosecutor at the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (also Chair of the Anti-Corruption Section), to represent him before the Appeal Chamber during the judicial review of the appeal against Decision No. 762/2022, of the Independent Qualification Commission, concerning the assessee Mr. Afrim Shehu, currently serving as a prosecutor at the Prosecution Office at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Tirana.
During the attendance verification, the presiding judge stated that the parties had been informed of the submissions and invited them to present their arguments during the hearing.
Mr. Klodjan Braho, Chair of the Anti-Corruption Section at the Special Prosecution Office, presented findings solely regarding the appeal grounds related to the assets assessment criterion, while announcing the withdrawal from the appeal grounds in relation to the proficiency criterion. Concluding his submissions, Mr. Braho argued that the assessee had made an inaccurate and insufficient declaration of assets and requested the Chamber to amend Decision No. 762/2022, of the Independent Qualification Commission and to dismiss from office the assessee Mr. Afrim Shehu.
The assessee, initially through his legal representative, objected the findings regarding the asset criterion and also explained the circumstances relating to the appeal grounds concerning the professional proficiency. He requested the submission of numerous documents which, according to him, prove the contrary of the grounds and claims raised in the appeal.
The parties were also questioned regarding public denunciations. With regard to one of them, it was stated that the complaint had previously been submitted before the Commission. As for the two denunciations filed prior to the appeal, the Chair of the Anti-Corruption Section at the Special Prosecution Office stated that they did not contain grounds for further investigation.
The adjudicating panel decided not to pursue an investigation into the aforementioned denunciations, to open the judicial investigation of the case, and to accept the documents submitted by the assessee as evidence. As the parties made no further procedural requests and sought time to prepare their final arguments, the panel adjourned the hearing on April 22, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
The appeal and elements of the case are published on the official SPAK website, in the “Re-evaluation Process” section: https://spak.gov.al/
The Head of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime, in accordance with Article 179/b, paragraph 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, has been exercising the powers of the Public Commissioners as of 1 January 2025.
