The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, accused of 13 criminal charges, appears to be using every opportunity with his legal team to drag out the preliminary judicial process in the Special Court as much as possible.
The lawyer, who was primarily appointed by the court to protect Veliaj's interests in the absence of lawyers, requested time to familiarize herself with the documents and permission to meet him in detention. But the court rejected her request. Nine preliminary hearings have already been postponed, mainly due to the absence of the mayor's lawyers.
Veliaj and his wife are accused of corruption and involvement in a money laundering scheme. The defendants are 28 other people, relatives and associates of Ajola Xoxa, businessmen, former SP MP Klotilda Bushka, as well as NGOs and commercial companies.
Today's hearing is continuing, but it is unknown whether the court will make a decision to proceed with the case for trial on the merits or not.
