Alban and Olsi Eftimi, the two directors of the architecture studio "Atelier 4", have appeared before the Special Prosecution Office, where they are being questioned as part of the investigations against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.
The name of the studio "Atelier 4" has appeared in the investigative file related to the luxury villa no. 188/1 in the "Green Coast" complex in Palasa, a property seized by SPAK and which investigators suspect was actually owned by Balluku and was obtained as a bribe.
The investigation also focuses on Alban Eftimi's electronic communications with Balluk. In a September 2020 email, Eftimi sent the former deputy prime minister a review of the project and described in detail the property's furnishings, from the infinity pool and hot tubs to the use of teak and marble. Another email contained floor plans and designs for the two villas.
According to SPAK, the villa up to the construction phase was financed by former footballer Igli Tare, while further works and the swimming pool were allegedly financed by businessman Arbër Abazi, administrator of "Alko Impex General Construction". Documents seized from the computers of "Atelier 4" show, according to reports on the file, payments from Abazi's company in amounts ranging from 288 thousand to 410 thousand euros.
"Alko Impex General Construction" had benefited from public contracts in infrastructure, while SPAK is investigating whether the financing of the works on the villa was related to suspected favoritism in tenders. These are suspicions of the prosecution and not final conclusions.
The inspections of the premises of "Atelier 4" were carried out earlier by SPAK investigators, who seized documents and materials to compare them with other evidence administered during the investigation. Alban Eftimi appeared again on September 3 at the Special Prosecution Office to give statements regarding the file.
The appearance this time of the two Eftimi brothers at SPAK marks another development in the ongoing investigation against former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku on suspicions that include corruption, money laundering, and concealment of assets.
