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An investigation by the Tirana Prosecutor's Office has brought to light a suspected theft and document manipulation scheme at one of the UBA Bank branches, leading to the execution of 12 security measures against employees of the financial institution.
Among the arrested persons are the branch director, Gilbert Hoxha, and deputy director Albin Keta, for whom the court has imposed the measure "Arrest in prison". Meanwhile, for 10 other suspects, lighter measures have been imposed, such as "House arrest" and "Suspension from duty", within the framework of investigations into the criminal offenses of theft through abuse of office, falsification of documents and manipulation of computer data.
The case began after a complaint was filed by a bank customer, who claimed that around 500,000 lek had been withdrawn from his account without his knowledge or authorization. The bank itself subsequently reported a similar case involving another customer's account.
According to preliminary investigations, at least 30 irregular withdrawals were made from customer accounts, while cases of opening and closing deposits in euros and dollars without the approval of their holders were also identified.
So far, the economic damage documented by the investigative group is estimated at over 200 thousand euros.
The materials obtained show that branch managers are suspected of having used their access to the banking system to commit illegal acts, including the use of false withdrawal mandates, unauthorized currency conversions, and changes to customer data. Investigators suspect that these acts were carried out in collaboration with other employees who performed functions such as cashiers, supervisors, and customer service specialists.
According to the prosecution, the scheme operated on several levels. Employees with direct access to customers' accounts carried out the interventions and transactions, while the process was verified and authorized by the responsible branch managers, who had the legal obligation to control and approve every banking transaction.
Investigations continue to determine the individual responsibilities of each of the suspects and to fully document the damage caused to customers and the financial institution.
"At the request of the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, Tirana, 12 security measures were issued, 'Arrest in prison', 'House arrest' and 'Suspension of service of a public duty or service' against 12 citizens accused of the criminal offenses 'Theft by abuse of office', 'Forgery of documents' and 'Computer forgery' provided for by articles 135/25, 186/3 and 186/a/2 of the Criminal Code.
The investigations into criminal proceedings no. 7108 of 2025, began after the complaint of citizen IO, that amounts worth 500,000 lek were withdrawn from his three accounts by unauthorized persons. Meanwhile, another report was filed by the bank itself, which reported the case of unauthorized withdrawal of amounts against client AK at the same branch.
From the investigations of the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, Tirana, it was found that 30 withdrawals were made by the bank's clients without a mandate, and several time deposits in euros and dollars were opened and closed without authorization.
In the specific case, the investigations resulted in the conclusion that against the persons under investigation, citizens EQ, ID, EK, BM, AK, GH, GB, DD, OK, RSBN and Zh.B. there is reasonable suspicion that they are potential perpetrators of the criminal offenses 'Theft by abuse of office', 'Forgery of documents' and 'Computer forgery' provided for by articles 135/25, 186/3 and 186/a/2 of the Criminal Code.
Citizens AK and GH, deputy director and director of the branch, against whom the precautionary measure 'Arrest in prison' was requested, resulted in having repeatedly committed illegal actions during the exercise of their functional duty. By abusing their duty and access to the banking system, they have embezzled the monetary amounts of two clients through the use of false withdrawal mandates, without a mandate, illegal entry into the system through currency conversions, opening/closing deposits and changing data without authorization. This coordinated theft scheme creates reasonable suspicion of the consumption of the criminal offense for which they are under investigation. They carried out these actions in collaboration with other bank employees, in the capacity of cashier, supervisor and customer service.
The security measure 'House arrest' was imposed on citizens GB, DD, OK, RS, BN, and Zh.B., for repeatedly committing illegal actions in the exercise of their duties. By abusing their duties and functional access to the banking system, they embezzled monetary amounts of two clients through the use of false withdrawal mandates or interference in the system without their authorization.
This benefit scheme, carried out by bank employees according to function, operated according to the mechanism: cashier/customer service, through exclusive access to customer funds, intervened and manipulated the banking system, actions which were verified and authorized by the management level in the hierarchy, the operational manager and the branch director, who had the obligation to verify, control and final authorize the execution of the banking transaction.
In relation to the other citizens under investigation, EQ, ID, EK and BM, the personal security measure 'Suspension of the exercise of a public duty or service' was requested and accepted for the criminal offense 'Computer forgery'. The investigation resulted in these citizens having carried out banking operations and transactions in conditions where the contract was missing in one or several cases, creating the premises for the exercise of illegal activity by the other aforementioned subjects who, by abusing their duties, have stolen property ," the announcement states.
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