At the court hearing on the seized assets, Mustafa Martinaj, the father of Ervis Martinaj, testified, speaking about his financial activity and family life.
He stated that during difficult times he circulated large amounts of cash, saying that "I drove around with $800 in my car" during the years of unrest.
According to his testimony, the financial activity was declared and related to his work at the time, also mentioning the period of 1999, when, according to him, the situation in the country was uncertain due to the presence of criminal gangs.
Mustafa Martinaj also spoke about his son's life, saying that Ervis studied economics in Italy, in Parma, around 2000-2001, on a scholarship, but then returned to Albania to live with his family.
He added that his son has been involved in various activities and that the family has helped financially on several occasions, including purchasing properties and vehicles.
In his testimony, he also mentioned that there was business activity in the private financial sector, referring to a financial institution called the Tirana Financial Union, where according to him numerous transactions were carried out during that period. The hearing for the seizure of assets related to Ervis Martinaj continues as the court is expected to evaluate the evidence and testimonies presented by the parties.
"Visi was initially a student in Parma, Italy, around 2000–2001. He went on a scholarship and studied economics for two years in Italy. The girls were at school in Albania. When they started their studies, Visi moved to stay with them and then settled in Tirana. Later they got married. The apartment was purchased, if I'm not mistaken, at the end of 2005. Visi was above average in his studies. He wanted to continue his schooling in Italy, but he left his studies halfway through and came to Tirana to live with his sisters. While he was at school, he was very hardworking and liked his independence; he had never done any work in Italy.
He asked me for help to buy a house together. I bought two cars, one for the two girls and one for Visi. For the girls, I took out a loan of 12,500 euros, for a small Japanese car. I had no problems with the boy. I had the keys, "a dry hand is not kissed". We are a traditional mountain family. He continued his studies in economics even after he came to Albania, but he did not pass the exams, and did not complete his diploma. He opened a business with a friend; I do not remember his name, but if I look for him I can find him. He was a guy from Tirana; they repaired toys, toys that children played with, horses. I, who see me here, disabled as I was, drove around Tirana alone with over 800 thousand dollars in cash, cards and phones, at 12 o'clock in the night, during the most difficult period of '99, when gangs were on the streets. I had a 2400 car and I took the money in the trunk to Rubik and Rrëshen; it was the money from my activity. "The UFT was a private institution, the Financial Union of Tirana, where I received the amounts. No scratches have happened to me; I played with my head, while incidents happen to others. After '97, I got involved in private activity, I started with a chancery and photocopying. I have been involved in money laundering for 30 years, I started working as the exclusive administrator of the UBT of the Laç district with 3 points. I worked in Mirditë, Mat and Fushë-Krujë, with voluminous work with extraordinary income. We take into account the time, the Kosovo war, the very high reminiscences. I have been all over Albania, I had exclusivity in 4 districts", he said.
In 2007, I worked as an administrator of Union Bank Laç, but also banking services – said Martinaj – and from this activity I secured about 60 thousand dollars of income. All my activities, a very difficult period Mr. Chairman, I have been unfairly attacked. The Savings Bank that had the main activity does not exist and there is no document. Not even 30% of my activity has been reflected. I have about 3.5 million euros of income, with about 6 million loans, I am able to prove these with bank decisions. A large part has been declared for the UBT company. I bought through the "Arbëria" bank. I took out bank loans for this work. For each of the cases, the actions are with the bank. "I can present the documents at any time," he said in an attempt to convince the court that his assets derive from legitimate sources. My family consists of me, my wife, two daughters, and my late son who is no longer with us. I am ashamed that I come here for clothes and bricks, and I have not been called once by you. I have given statements, no signal from you...", emphasized Martinaj's father.
