The head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, who was also a complainant in the case known as the "Partizani" file, appeared this Thursday at the GJKKO, where he gave his testimony regarding the complaint filed with SPAK.
In his statements before the court, Balla emphasized that the complaint was made in his capacity as a citizen, adding that since 2012 he had raised doubts about the manner in which the former "Partizani" sports complex was privatized.
According to him, this process was not conducted in accordance with legal procedures, but was accompanied by the use of influence and connections for illegal benefits.
Balla also highlighted that the privatization was carried out in a very short period of time and with values that, according to him, did not reflect the real value of the property. He also mentioned suspicions of asset concealment and illegal mediation.
During the hearing, Jamarbër Malltezi asked Balla about the position he held at the time of the report. In response, he stated that he exercised political duties in the Socialist Party and in the Assembly, including leading the parliamentary group.
In conclusion, Balla stated that the information on which the complaint was based was provided by state institutions and citizen complaints, emphasizing that all materials were officially submitted to SPAK.
Balla's testimony:
Taulant Balla: “Since 2012, I have expressed my doubts about the way in which the bodies responsible for the privatization of the “Partizani” complex have proceeded. In my assessment, this privatization process has not been carried out in accordance with legal procedures. Various individuals have used their concessions and family connections in connection with this process. From a very large amount of evidence, it is striking how such a privatization was carried out in such a quick manner. In Albania, throughout all these years, former owners have been suffering for the recognition and return of their property, while within a 6-month period the procedure for the recognition and return of the building in this case was carried out. What was observed at that time was how a complex like “Partizani” had been removed from the army plan. In one document it appeared that it was in the expansion plan, while in another it was not. For this reason, I asked the prosecution to investigate. In my assessment, two large buildings with a considerable surface area could not be valued at 10 million new lek. It was suspicious how, within a 6-month period, this entire process was carried out. This constituted a departure from the average time norms followed for such properties. In my report, we also raised the suspicion that we are dealing with a form of concealment of assets or illegal mediation. A company was created, owned by one of the accused, and it turned out that this owner transferred the percentage of shares to two other people who were involved in this process. Sali Berisha, due to his position as prime minister, benefited from these connections through his son-in-law. The cause-effect relationship was used to conclude the recognition and privatization procedure at a ridiculous value, while in a very short time all permits for the construction of 17 buildings where a sports club used to be, were obtained", said Balla.
Balla was then asked a series of questions by the defendant Jamarbër Malltezi.
Question – Answer session:
Jamarbër Malltezi: Where do you work?
Taulant Balla: Socialist Party MP.
Malltezi: How many years have you been in this position?
Balla: Since September 9, 2005.
Malltezi: What position did you have when you filed the complaint?
Balla: Chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group.
Balla: I signed the report as a citizen.
Malltezi: In the report, where did you find the personal data, such as identity numbers, etc.?
Balla: We have received them officially and from citizen complaints.
Malltezi: Explain your current position to us.
Balla: Member of the Parliament of Albania.
Malltezi: Do you have another job?
Balla: I hold political positions in the Socialist Party.
Malltezi: What position were you in when you filed the report with SPAK?
Balla: I was secretary general of the Socialist Party and chairman of the parliamentary group.
Malltezi: So you didn't sign as citizen Taulant Balla, but as secretary and group leader?
Balla: I filed the complaint as a witness.
Malltezi: False declaration is punishable. The report says otherwise. Was it an initiative of the SP parliamentary group or yours personally?
Balla: I have performed my duty as a representative of the Assembly. When you become aware of a criminal offense, not reporting it constitutes a criminal offense. A deputy must represent the national interest. It was an integrated activity, but the initiative was personal, not a group decision.
Malltezi: Has all the evidence attached to the complaint been submitted?
Balla: It was a multi-year investigative work. Using the law on the status of MPs, I received information from various institutions and attached it to the report.
Malltezi: How did they give you your personal data?
Balla: I have addressed the institutions and have handed over everything that has been made available to me to the prosecution. Some of it was received officially and some from citizen complaints.
Jamarbër Malltezi: Have you been raised concerns about the use of private data?
Taulant Balla: I answered every question the prosecutor had.
Malltezi: He didn't ask you this question.
Balla: I don't remember.
Malltezi: Are you basing your conclusions on evidence or assumptions?
Balla: The complaint is based on suspicions. These suspicions are accompanied by several documents, which we can call evidence, that are attached to the complaint.
Malltezi: What concrete evidence do you present and in what aspect of corruption?
Balla: There is no clearer work than this; it is a pure affair…
Olive: Stick to the question.
Balla: It's about how state property is taken, illegally privatized, and turned into illegal profit.
Malltezi: You said that you took the evidence yourself and that the procedures were carried out for 6 months, given that one of the evidence was the property restitution document. This procedure was conducted from 1996 to 2007. Do you think this period is 6 months? The document was submitted by the witness in his own hand.
Balla: We are dealing with a case where, in 2007, the property was within the expansion plan. From the moment of removal from the plan to privatization, the process was completed within 6 months.
Malltezi: When was it removed from the distribution plan?
Balla: I was informed by the media about the statements of former army officials who were against the removal from the proliferation plan.
Malltezi: Do you know what the dissemination plan is?
Balla: The army plan is the plan for the properties that the army needs.
Malltezi: So, you found out from the media and from the statements of a general. For authenticity, do you base it on facts or statements? Which has greater weight: the President's decree or the statement of a general in the media?
(Court): The question is not accepted.
Malltezi: How did the dissemination plan come about, when it is a secret document?
Balla: Since the privatization was carried out, this has become known. It has not only been investigated by me, but also by the media, which has raised suspicions of abuse in the procedure.
Malltezi: Have you seen the deployment plan?
Balla: No.
Malltezi: On what basis do you base the idea that privatization began in 2008?
Balla: On public statements.
Malltezi: Where exactly do you base it?
Balla: I have no other comment.
Malltezi: Are you aware that Pandeli Majko and Fatos Klosi spoke out in favor of privatizing the club in 2006?
Balla: No, I have no idea.
Malltezi: Are you aware of the expression of interest in 2006?
Balla: Yes.
Malltezi: Then why do you say you had no knowledge before 2008, when you admit that you had knowledge?
Jamarbër Malltezi: Questions for the witness regarding the citizen MB
Taulant Balla: What does this have to do with the issue?
(Court): Attention is drawn to the questioning party.
Malltezi: What law do you have in mind when you say that the property was returned illegally?
Balla: I think the property should have remained with the military. The public interest has been violated, and when there is a violation of the public interest, there is also a violation of the law.
Malltezi: What legal acts did you refer to when you filed the complaint?
Balla: Criminal Code and legislation in force.
Malltezi: What concrete evidence are you referring to?
Balla: There is no clearer proof than the property valuation act. Two large buildings in the center of Tirana have been valued at around 100 thousand euros.
Malltezi: Why do you call them "self-proclaimed former owners"?
Balla: It turns out that the Italian state has compensated the former owners and, under these conditions, they are no longer the owners.
Malltezi: You said that some families were expropriated. If it turns out that one person was expropriated, e.g. A.Xh, is this proof that others were also expropriated?
Balla: It is up to the prosecution to investigate and verify this case.
Malltezi: What about the fact that the property was returned to the UK within a year?
Balla: It has nothing to do with this matter, Madam Judge.
(Court): The question is not accepted.
Jamarbër Malltezi: Are you satisfied with the work SPAK has done over the past 10 years?
(Court): The question is not allowed.
Taulant Balla: I will give the answer outside this room.
Elsa Ulliri: Actually, you gave the answer earlier, but now it is not allowed.
Malltezi: You declared in the Assembly: "We wouldn't die if we didn't see Sali Berisha in prison." Is this the case?
(Court): The question is not allowed.
Lawyer Klodian Skënderaj: You said that you filed the complaint as a member of parliament and as a citizen. To your knowledge, was the complaint you signed based on supporting documentation? Did you attach any documents?
Taulant Balla: I have attached what I had available.
Skënderaj: How did you obtain these documents?
Balla: Partly through official channels, partly from citizens. There are three sources: the media, citizens, and the MP's special line through letters.
Skënderaj: Have you received any letter from the Ministry of Defense that you have attached to the report? Is this the letter?
Balla: I don't remember, it was 6 years ago. Maybe yes.
Skënderaj: How was the report filed with the prosecutor's office?
Balla: As far as I remember, it was filed manually.
Skënderaj: So, with a follow-up letter from the Assembly institution, where the Secretary General has filed a report with the Special Prosecution?
Balla: Marrëdhënia e deputetëve me institucionet e drejtësisë kalon nga Sekretari i Përgjithshëm i Kuvendit. Besoj se është dorëzuar nga stafi administrativ.
Skënderaj: Pretendimet tuaja për falsifikim, i keni depozituar me dokument konkret?
Balla: Nga faktet e njohura botërisht rezulton se personat e kallëzuar kanë përfituar nga funksionet e tyre.
Skënderaj: Mbani mend që jeni shprehur se pronarët janë kompensuar nga Italia fashiste dhe se kjo tokë është blerë nga Shefqet Vërlaci dhe Jako Mane?
Balla: I qëndroj asaj që kam thënë në kallëzim.
Balla: Vazhdoni.
Elsa Ulliri: Ndaloni komentet. Gjykata vendos kur vazhdohet ose jo.
Balla: Tregohuni e drejtë; edhe pala tjetër ka bërë komente gjatë gjithë kohës.
Skënderaj: Sa herë keni dhënë shpjegime në prokurori?
Balla: Dy herë.
Skënderaj: Mbani mend nëse u keni bashkëngjitur deklarimeve dokumentacion?
Balla: Nuk më kujtohet.
Skënderaj: Ekziston një procesverbal i paraqitjes suaj në prokurori. Kur keni ngritur pretendime për shpronësimin e familjeve, a keni pasur dokumente konkrete?
Balla: Është një fakt publik; ekziston një dokument i vitit 1995 që tregon se ata janë shpronësuar.
Skënderaj: Pak më parë thatë se nuk keni depozituar dokumente, ndërsa tani po thoni se keni. Në këtë shkresë drejtuar arkivave, a keni parë ndonjë element që provon shpronësimin e familjes Begeja?
Balla: A mund ta shoh shkresën? Bazuar në një shkresë të bërë publike nga unë dhe të siguruar prej meje, i referohemi aeroportit të Tiranës dhe vendimit të shpronësimit. Por ky nuk është dokumenti për të cilin po flas; është një dokument tjetër.
Skënderaj: Kam një procesverbal të nënshkruar nga SPAK dhe dëshmitari. Nëse dokumenti nuk është i saktë, nuk di çfarë të them.
Balla: Nuk më kujtohet. Në vlerësimin tim, nuk është kjo shkresa.
Skënderaj: A e dini çfarë është shpronësimi?
Balla: Si çdo qytetar tjetër, kur një pronë private merret për interes shtetëror.
Skënderaj: A e dini çfarë ndodh me pronën kur aplikohet shpronësim i përkohshëm?
Balla: Nuk kam dijeni.
Skënderaj: Çfarë fakulteti keni përfunduar?
Balla: Shkenca Politike.
Avokati Sokol Mëngjesi: Ku e bazoni kundërligjshmërinë?
Taulant Balla: E kam bërë sqarimin tim; është në prokurori dhe në kallëzimin tim.
Mëngjesi: Na referoni disa fakte që i keni hetuar vetë apo i keni parë në dokumentacion.
Balla: Nuk kemi të bëjmë me një rast tipik korrupsioni dhe fshehjeje pasurie. Bëhet fjalë për një pronë të Ministrisë së Mbrojtjes që privatizohet, kthehet prona, krijohet kompani dhe ndërtohet. Faktet lidhen me nenet e Kodit Penal mbi të cilat mbështetet arsyetimi im.
Mëngjesi: Një fakt apo dokument konkret, ku e bazoni korrupsionin?
Balla: E mendoj kështu.
Elsa Ulliri: Pa menduar.
Balla: Pa menduar nuk mund ta them. Jemi para një rasti ku një person i lidhur me një person me pushtet publik krijon kompani, lidh marrëveshje, krijon pasuri dhe përfitimi i shkon personit me pushtet. Kam përmendur fakte se si një personi të lidhur me pushtetin i është kthyer prona brenda një kohe shumë të shkurtër.
Breakfast: Who privatizes it? If it was owned by the military and is located on private land, and state structures are putting it up for privatization, who privatizes it?
Balla: The Central Army House is currently in private ownership. Why is it not being returned to the owner of the land, while the "Partizani" complex is being returned to him? I think there is favoritism. The people I have denounced, such as Sali Berisha, Jamarbër Malltezi and other people, have enabled this privatization.
Morning: What concrete actions have Sali Berisha and Jamarbër Malltezi taken?
Balla: I presented the information I had in the report.
Breakfast: I am not aware of the report. Can you clarify here?
(Court): The question is rejected.
Jamarbër Malltezi: Yes, he is lying again, Madam Judge.
Breakfast: What false documents did the former owners use at AKKP?
Balla: From what has been made public and from the reasoning based on the facts, it results that that property was expropriated...
Elsa Ulliri: Do you have any concrete knowledge about this question?
Breakfast: Is there a deadline for the agency to make a decision?
Balla: There is a deadline, but I don't know how long it is.
Breakfast: Why do you claim that Malltez took the property very quickly? What is your basis for saying that they took it faster than others?
(Court): The question is not allowed; the answer has been given before.
Balla: I am a whistleblower. If I had the opportunity to gather all the facts, I would not present them to the prosecution. In the complaint, I also raised several questions that I asked SPAK to verify.
Breakfast: What influence has Jamarbër Malltezi exerted?
Balla: He is a beneficiary, connected and publicly exposed because he is the son-in-law of the prime minister of the time. When these elements come together, suspicion arises that he has benefited.
Elsa Ulliri: You were specifically asked about the impact.
Balla: Through family ties, he influenced the institutions to make these decisions. I have doubts, based on the relevant articles.
Morning: Has Jamarbër Malltezi specifically communicated with any person or institution?
Balla: I have no idea.
