Journalist Klodiana Lala, invited to the show "Kjo Javë" with Nisida Tufa, commented on the review by the High Court of Mayor Erion Veliaj's appeal against the security measure "prison arrest", emphasizing that the decision expected on May 28 could also set a precedent for other senior political figures under investigation.
According to Lala, the Supreme Court is obliged to review the appeal and issue a decision within the day, except in exceptional cases.
"The Supreme Court is obliged to review Mr. Veliaj's appeal against the security measure 'prison arrest' and must issue a decision within the same day," she said.
The journalist emphasized that Veliaj's case will be the first real test for the implementation of the Supreme Court's unifying decision on security measures.
"There is a unifying decision of the Supreme Court that partially changed the judicial practice and unified the practice for security measures. The court must argue why alternative measures such as property guarantee, house arrest or obligation to appear are not appropriate and why prison arrest is the only measure," said Lala.
According to her, Veliaj relies on several main arguments in his request for release.
"Veliaj claims to be a local elected official who governs almost 1/3 of Albanians. He claims that the investigation is over and he has no chance of destroying evidence or intimidating witnesses. He also says that he has been open to the investigation and has not attempted to leave," the journalist stated.
On the other hand, according to her, SPAK opposes the release based on two main elements.
"SPAK claims that there are two moments where it stops and highlights all the delays or objections in relation to Mr. Veliaj's request. First, it claims that there is a judicial collaborator in the file who could easily be put under pressure if Mr. Veliaj is released. And second, there is a fraction two of the file which is being investigated and has to do precisely with the activity of his brother's company, Arbër Veliaj. Several documents have been taken... several practices, several files have been examined, there have also been processes during this time. There are a number of intensive investigative actions in relation to this," said Lala.
She underlined that the decision that the Supreme Court will make could also affect other sensational cases.
"The decision for Mr. Veliaj could open a path for other senior officials who are under 'prison arrest', such as Ilir Beqaj, former president Ilir Meta and others," the journalist concluded.
