Tirana –The Serious Crimes Prosecution requested a 4-year prison sentence for Tirana Appeals Judge Shkëlqim Miri, who is accused of corruption. It is suspected that Miri, in exchange for a bribe, reduced the charge against the convicted Gentian Doda, of intentional murder with serious injury, which allowed him to be released. As an additional punishment, prosecutor Klodian Braho requested that the Appeals Judge be deprived of the right to practice law for a period of three years. It was also requested that the defendant be confiscated the sum of 30 thousand euros, with the argument that it has been proven that this money was taken as a bribe for the decision favorable to the convicted Doda.

The remaining 30 million lek, which was found in the judge's house in November 2017, when he was arrested, was requested by the prosecution to be returned to the defendant, but a property investigation is underway under the anti-mafia law regarding the source of the money. For the defendant Kujtim Miri, suspected of corruption, a sentence of 2 and 6 years in prison was requested. The judge's cousin is suspected of having played the role of an intermediary. Both defendants receive a one-third reduction in sentence, due to the shortened trial. Alban Buci, who is wanted, is also involved in the incident. According to the prosecution, he is the person who mediated and handed over the bribe money, enabling the release of his friend, Gentian Doda. Sentenced to 20 years in prison for double murder, Doda spent a few years in solitary confinement after being extradited from the United States of America, after he managed to leave his cells due to the lightening of the charges. But after the arrest of the judge, Gentian Doda's name has been listed again on the wanted list.

eff/BalkanWeb