FLASH
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Tirana police were unable to find him for more than two weeks, until Palaj decided to turn himself in on June 29, 2025.
Njuland (Lendi) Palaj, known as the manager of the "333" and "CR7" betting shops, was released by the court on July 1, 2025, just 48 hours after he surrendered to the Tirana Police.
The 26-year-old Lezhjani was wanted on suspicion of being involved in a conflict, where firearms were also used, an event that occurred on June 10, 2025, in the "Ali Demi" area, in Tirana.
Tirana Judge Altin Abdiu had ordered him to be placed in prison on June 14, 2025, following the request of Prosecutor Bledar Valikaj, as a suspect in the criminal offenses of "Illegal possession and production of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition", "Illegal production, possession, purchase or sale of cold weapons" and "Threats".
Tirana police were unable to find him for more than two weeks, until Palaj decided to turn himself in on June 29, 2025.
"Boldnews.al" has obtained the data from the court file, which shows that the security measure against Lendi Palaj was imposed, based mainly on the statements of an eyewitness.
"Lendi Shot"
Witness AV is an employee at a gas station located very close to the scene of the incident. He was questioned by the police on June 11, 2025, just a few hours after the violent conflict.
He stated to the judicial police that "At the time of the incident, I was getting dressed to take my work shift and I heard some random noises. I immediately went out to see what had happened, and I saw that in front of the facility where I work, there was a group of boys and parked cars."
According to him, "the boys were arguing with each other. One of these boys fired several times with a Kalashnikov-type firearm, in the air, and after he fired, the other people scattered and left."
Asked who shot, witness AV stated: "One of the boys from the neighborhood, whom I know by the name of Lenti, shot him. He shot about 6 times with a Kalashnikov."
He says he knows Lentin (Njuland Palaj), as the latter "frequents the bars nearby, the "333" bar and another one." The witness says he did not notify the police of what happened, as the blue uniforms arrived at the scene very quickly.
The testimony of the AV gas station employee seems to have been the strongest element in approving the arrest measure for Njuland (Lendi) Palaj, as the court decision does not mention any other investigative actions, such as camera inspections, etc., that would fully confirm the authorship of the event.
"Lendi didn't shoot"
But, at the hearing for the security measure, after Lendi Palaj surrendered, the situation changed. The defense attorney of the betting shop manager presented to the court a statement of witness AV, drawn up before a notary on June 28, 2025, the day before Njuland Palaj surrendered.
In that statement, the witness denied his statements to the Judicial Police officers, given immediately after the event.
"On 10.06.2025, I declared at Police Station No. 1, Tirana that I am an employee at Karburanti
"xxxx" on "Ali Demi" Street in the city of Tirana, and when I took the work shift, I saw several people arguing with each other, and that one of these guys fired a Kalashnikov into the air. And that the one who fired the gun into the air was a citizen named Lenti", begins the notarial statement of the witness, submitted to the court.
He then states before the notary: "Regarding this statement given on 10.06.2025 at the Police Station No. 1 in Tirana, I would like to state that, in the first moments I gave this statement, I was confused due to the situation and the darkness. After I calmed down, I asked to be questioned again, since the citizen who shot in the air was not the citizen named Lenti, but another citizen, whom I do not know and cannot identify."
This statement, which completely differs from the witness's statements to the police officers, forced the prosecutor in the case, Bledar Valikaj, to agree with the lawyer on the relaxation of the security measure for Njuland (Lendi) Palaj.
Also, Judge Altin Abdiu, who had previously set the security measure of "prison arrest" for Palaj, under the new conditions, decided to change the decision he made two weeks ago, imposing on him the obligation to appear twice a month before Judicial Police officers./ Bold News
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