Journalist Klodiana Lala has stated that the "5D" affair of the Tirana Municipality has been "completely blown out of proportion", while the officials involved have received minimal sentences and avoided prison, despite serious accusations and financial damage.
Invited to the show "The Unexposed" on MCN TV, Lala said that the process of mitigating the case began with the change in security measures for Redi Molla and Taulant Tusha, who are under house arrest.
"The unraveling of the '5D affair' has begun with the release from house arrest of Redi Molla, who is accused of corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets. There are suspicions that Molla and Qato had created the 5D company and were feeding it with tenders from the Municipality of Tirana," said Lala.
She emphasized that despite charges that provide for sentences of up to 15 years in prison, the measures against Molla and Tusha have been softened without transparency.
"There is still no reasoned decision as to why these people, with serious charges, are being held under house arrest," she said.
Lala also criticized the decision of the Special Court of Appeal, which overturned the prison sentence for several officials, including Eglantina Zeren, former director of 'Tirana Parking'.
"The first instance had sentenced them to 6 to 9 months in prison. They were ridiculous sentences, but at least they were in prison. The appeal today overturned the imprisonment and put them on probation for 12 months," the journalist said.
According to her, despite the fact that "millions of euros have been extorted," no official has served a prison sentence.
"It is a ridiculous sentence in relation to the affair that took place. This is a total blow to the 5D affair and there should have been asset investigations for the officials," concluded Lala.
