Former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu requested this Friday in the Special Court the questioning of 90 witnesses on account of the process against him in this court for the Gërdec explosion, as a result of which 26 people passed away.
Among them are senior defense officials of DASH and governments, NATO generals and former defense ministers of the Albanian government. Moreover, Mediu requests that those who have been convicted in court proceedings with a final decision, as well as all the family members of the victims, be called to testify.
According to field sources, the Special Prosecution against Corruption, SPAK was against Mediu’s request that the process continue with ordinary trial. Two prosecutors, Klodian Braho and Arben Kraja, considered the request of former minister Mediu as unfounded.
In the meantime, the Court has withdrawn to the consultation room whether or not to accept the usual trial requested by the lawyers of Fatmir Mediu.
Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK announced on February 8, 2023 the transfer of the case to the charge of Fatmir Mediu, accused of the criminal offenses of “abuse of duty”, committed in collaboration and “abuse of duty”, in cooperation with military subject-command cadre.
Mediu is accused that in relation to the process of demilitarization and dismantling of ammunition that took place in the premises of the former “Tank Brigade”, in the village of Gërdec, Vorë Municipality, in cooperation with other officials of the Ministry of Defense as well as persons who had the quality of the military commanding staff, has issued several by-laws contrary to the law.
Prosecution says that these acts related to the sale and dismantling of a quantity of ammunition “damaged the legitimate interests of the state and brought unfair advantages to the companies SAC inc and Albademil sh.p.k.”.
Case against Mediu was reopened after 12 years by initiative of the family of one of the victims of the explosion in March 2008 in the premises of the former “Tank Brigade”, with 26 fatalities and hundreds injured.
/abcnews.al
