The Durrës Court has released former RENEA operative Arbër Paplekaj from prison, who was convicted of the murder of Pjerin Xhuvani, 4 days before the April 25, 2021 elections in the city of Elbasan. Peplekaj was granted a suspended sentence.
After being sentenced to 22 years in prison in the first instance, he requested a reopening of the process, where he was ultimately sentenced to 7 years in prison.
The Appeal with General Jurisdiction in Tirana overturned the decision of the Elbasan court, which on July 22, 2023, sentenced him to 22 years, reducing the sentence by 15 years. The Court of Appeal also changed the charge from 'murder in qualifying circumstances' to 'murder in conditions of psychological shock'.
Likewise, the Appeal Court acquitted 6 members of the Eagles, Dedion Duraku, Pëllumb Biçaku, Erion Balla, Erion Meçja, Donald Dedja and Besmir Kadiu. The Elbasan court had sentenced them to 16 months of probation.
Two former deputy directors of the Elbasan Police, Albert Nushi and Nikollaq Palla, for whom the Elbasan Court had given 1 year of probation each, were also declared innocent.
We recall that the exchange of fire left Pjerin Xhuvani dead and injured, Emiljani Prenga, Paulin Vuksani, Xhuvani's son-in-law, Edjon Budani and police officer Xhensila Sota. Paplekaj admitted the crime and surrendered to the RENEA Forces Department in Tirana, saying that he shot in self-defense after being shot earlier by people who, according to him, were buying votes.
