From crime, to corruption, pressures and political affairs, Altin Dumani reports to the Parliament

SPAK leader Altin Dumani has made it clear to politics that he will not surrender in the face of it.

He is reporting to the Assembly and was asked by MP Jorida Tabaku if he is surrendering in the face of pressure given that he is at the end of his mandate. Dumani replied: " No, it has nothing to do with it. I am not surrendering. I am not a person who surrenders. I will continue to be the prosecutor of the Republic of Albania even after the end of the one-year mandate, of course, God willing. I clarify here that I have asked the parliament several times to consider the possibility of reviewing the mandate of special prosecutors, and on more than a few occasions it has been implied that I am doing this for my personal interest. For this reason, I reiterate once again that if politics conditions it or there are opinions that the extension of the mandate is related to my name, then I will not run again.

Robert Kennedy, former attorney general of America, said among other things that the glory of justice and the greatness of the law are created not only by constitutions, but by men and women who live them with courage and understanding. Therefore, I feel the work, I have courage, but I also try to be understandable. This statement of Robert Kennedy applies to all special prosecutors .

DP leader Sali Berisha has returned to the Assembly hall, where SPAK leader Altin Dumani is reporting on crime and corruption.

Berisha intervened during Dumani's speech, telling him that he should read the questions one by one and answer each one.

" Let's ask the questions one by one and not in this way where no one finds out," Berisha-Dumani said.

In total, the opposition has submitted 57 questions to the head of SPAK, who will answer them at the conclusion of the report's presentation.

In his speech, Dumani emphasized that pressure from crime and politics against SPAK continues, endangering the institutional integrity and that of prosecutors.

Dumani stated that this concern requires a coordinated institutional response to protect the constitutional independence of SPAK, while once again requesting that SPAK prosecutors have the opportunity to run for re-election after the end of their 9-year mandate.

The head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, during his report to the Parliament, spoke about the topology and activity of influential criminal groups in Albania and abroad.

Dumani stressed that Albanian criminal organizations continue to be active in drug trafficking, especially cocaine and cannabis, extending their activity to several European Union countries.

According to the head of SPAK, Albanian criminal networks are closely linked to international drug markets, ensuring the purchase of cocaine in Latin American countries, mainly in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and other countries.

"These groups carry out their activities in several EU countries, mainly in Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, as well as other countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom. They ensure the purchase of cocaine in Latin American countries, mainly in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and others," said the head of SPAK.

He also emphasized that influential criminal groups in Albania are also involved in human trafficking and cybercrime, which are also part of the European Union's international markets.

"Regarding the topology of influential criminal groups in Albania, they continue to be active in drug trafficking, mainly in cocaine and cannabis trafficking. These groups carry out their activities in several EU countries, mainly in Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, as well as other countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

"They ensure the purchase of cocaine in Latin American countries, mainly in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and others. Although to a low degree, influential criminal groups in Albania are also involved in human trafficking and cybercrime, which are also part of the EU's international markets," Dumani said in the Assembly.

There have been progressive increases in proceedings against criminal groups and money laundering, Altin Dumani, head of SPAK, said in the Assembly, as he presented the annual report to MPs.

He said that Albanian criminal groups continue to be active in drug trafficking, while they have their activities in European Union countries. He said that 117 people are internationally wanted as part of criminal groups.

"The fight against organized crime this year, compared to the previous year, has marked significant achievements with an increase of about 18.8% in the registration of these criminal proceedings. Likewise, the number of persons under investigation for these proceedings has also increased by about 21.6%, compared to 2023. On the other hand, there is a decrease of about 7.3% in cases sent for trial due to their volume and complexity," said the head of SPAK.

Regarding the fight against corruption, Dumani stated that SPAK has followed an active approach by investigating a significant number of senior officials.

"During 2024, 33 former senior officials were under investigation (where two of them are registered in two different proceedings each), of which 19 officials have been sent to court with a request for trial. Of the total number of former senior officials under investigation, 19 of them have been sent to court, which represents 52.9% of cases. Cooperation from public institutions regarding referrals received from them still needs to be improved. Thus, the number of proceedings initiated from referrals followed by public institutions remains low, accounting for only 15.1% of the total referrals sent to SPAK by all public and private entities. It is worth noting that referrals received from the state police, compared to 2023, have also marked a worrying decrease of 53.8%," said Dumani.

Violation of equality in tenders and laundering of the proceeds of crime were assessed by the Head of SPAK as the most widespread among the criminal offenses prosecuted by the Special Prosecution Office.

"SPAK has given special importance to property and financial investigations. In this context, the Financial Investigators Sector has been strengthened by building human capacity mainly in financial and property investigations with complex operations inside and outside the country, including cryptocurrency operations. During 2024, with the assistance of international experts, the issuance of a general instruction on administrative and procedural measures for conducting financial and property investigations in SPAK was finalized.

Meanwhile, for confiscated assets, this value amounts to about 36.7 million euros. Thus, the value of seized assets accounts for about 43.8% of the total value, while confiscated assets account for about 56.2% of the total value. Also compared to 2023, an increase of about 59.7% of the total value of seized and confiscated assets is noted (about 65.5 million euros in 2024 compared to about 41 million euros in 2023)", said Dumani, presenting the annual report.

The head of SPAK does not like critical voices!

The head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, continues to stand by the claim that the media is between politics and crime, as entities that are exerting pressure on the prosecution.

He made this statement in the Laws Committee a few days ago, where there were many reactions. But today in the Assembly hall, Dumani, while listing the threats, mentioned the media again.

" SPAK continues to be under external pressure from political, media and organized crime actors that endanger the institutional integrity and that of prosecutors. This concern requires a coordinated institutional response to protect the constitutional independence of SPAK ," stressed Dumani.  

But in trying to identify the real threats to SPAK's independence, Mr. Dumani risks slipping into another danger: confusing criticism with attack. Because when an institution like SPAK decides to mention the media in the same row as organized crime and political pressure, the idea is created that even legitimate criticism, even investigative reporting, is seen as a threat.

There is no serious evidence that the media in Albania is exerting pressure on SPAK. What exists is an increase in public interest in its decisions, in the protracted investigations in some sensitive files, in its often unclear positions on issues of national interest. This is not pressure, it is public responsibility.

Even the way SPAK acted towards journalist Elton Qyno is the clearest example of what happens when an institution seeks to close information channels, instead of clarifying them. The seizure of the work equipment of an investigative journalist, without minimal legal guarantees, was later overturned by the Constitutional Court itself. And rightly so.

Why didn't Dumani talk about cases where the media is used for SPAK's interests? The pamphlet denounced a few days ago how prosecutor Klodian Braho uses journalists close to him to create smokescreens regarding the race for the head of SPAK. So if it weren't for the media, SPAK would have turned into a gendarme today. The media is what keeps not only SPAK on track, but the government, the police, etc.

Në sallë vihet re mungesa e Sali Berishës

Kreu i SPAK, Altin Dumani po prezanton në Kuvend raportin e SPAK për vitin 2024.

Mësohet se opozita ka depozituar 57 pyetje për drejtuesin e SPAK, i cili do tu përgjigjet në përfundim të prezantimit të raportit.

Në sallë vihet re mungesa e Sali Berishës, edhe pse pritet të rikthehet më vonë.

Ndonëse nuk ka regjistruar pyetje për të, Berisha parashikohet të mbajë një fjalë 15 minutëshe, pasi Dumani të ketë përfunduar dhe me përgjigjet e pyetjeve.

The head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, appeared before MPs today to report on the work of the prosecution. He also responded to accusations that SPAK is using coercive measures.

According to him, most of those being investigated for corruption are under light security measures.

" Regarding the number of proceedings initiated from referrals received from citizens, compared to 2023, we have an increase of 36%, indicating a higher level of public trust in SPAK. As for security measures, the number of prisoners from SPAK investigations constitutes only 9.5% of the total. The security measure "arrest in prison" has been applied to persons, of whom about 82% are investigated for criminal offenses of organized crime. Regarding corruption cases during the year, it results that 13.5% of the total number of persons have been placed under the measure "arrest in prison" , he said.

The head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, is reporting today to the Albanian Parliament on the progress of the Special Prosecution's work over the past year. In his speech, Dumani stated that over the past year, investigations into corruption and organized crime have been significantly strengthened, while the professional capacities of the structure have been consolidated.

According to Dumani, the number of cases under investigation has increased by 8%, while the number of persons investigated has increased by 21% compared to a year ago. However, the head of SPAK admitted that the number of new proceedings registered has decreased by about 15%, which is related to internal reorganization and the priority given to completing complex files in process.

In his report, Dumani highlighted the importance of parallel financial investigations, which are being conducted alongside criminal investigations. He noted that seizures and confiscations of criminal assets have intensified, reaching a value of millions of euros, an increase of 60% compared to last year. These include real estate, bank accounts and even cryptocurrency transactions.

" Recommendation number one, which is related to strengthening investigations and punishments for corruption, we underline that during the year SPAK consolidated its professional capacities and increased by 8% the number of cases under investigation and by 21% the number of persons investigated compared to the year. However, the number of new proceedings registered marked a decrease of about 15%.

Recommendation number two, related to parallel financial investigations, we highlight that in November 2021, the general instruction on administrative and procedural measures for conducting financial and property investigations in the special structure against corruption and organized crime was adopted, which standardizes financial investigations and conducts them in parallel with criminal investigations. As a result, seizures and confiscations of criminal assets were intensified, reaching a value of millions of euros, with an increase of 60% compared to the previous year. These include real estate, bank accounts and cryptocurrency transactions.

For recommendation number three, which addresses the fight against organized crime and international cooperation, we highlight that during the year SPAK strengthened operational cooperation with Europol, Eurojust, Interpol and partner agencies of EU countries, the United States such as the FBI. It is also worth highlighting that new joint investigative teams were created , "he said.