The story of the unlicensed company that took over the Reconstruction
In fact, the whole story of Reconstruction with individual grants in the Sinaballaj administrative unit of Rrogozhina began on March 30, 2023, when administrator Arta Danaj would register the company "Duka Tr Construction" with activities in the field of construction in the capital.

This is where the first doubts would begin, because to carry out a project like the Reconstruction, experience and the completion of several other works would be needed. Moreover, seeing that the residents were homeless, these works had to be carried out as quickly as possible to avoid bonus rents and to accommodate the residents in the new houses.

A crucial element that emerges from the residents' testimonies is the fact that representatives of the construction company appeared to them stating that the firm was "chosen by the municipality."

"This issue is a little confusing. The firm came to us, contacted us, told us we had received the earthquake houses and we signed the contracts," Ledi Sula told "Vetting".

According to the law, the municipality does not choose or mediate the construction company in this case. The law is structured in such a way that the money is given to the resident, while the decision on who to build the house with belongs to the beneficiary himself. Private contracts and the way the actions on the ground have flowed raise questions about the real role of local offices in informing and guiding residents during the process. This means that the resident bears the risk, because the resident has made the choice.

In the individual grant scheme, the municipality appears with an administrative and verification role, while the relationship with the construction company is formalized by the resident himself with a private contract.

This fact contradicts the purpose of the individual grant scheme, which is based on the free choice of operator by the beneficiary and on the municipality's non-interference in the private relationship. If this introduction has occurred with the knowledge or tolerance of municipal structures, then the grant scheme, although formally legal, has been distorted in implementation.

To find out more, "Vetting" contacted the administrator of the company "Duka Tr Construction" Arta Danaj to ask her about this point.

"The Municipality of Rrogozhina did not elect me, I have only had relationships with individuals," administrator Danaj told "Vetting".

Regarding the residents' statements that it was presented as a company that would deal with the reconstruction in Sinaballaj, Danaj told "Vetting" that he was not aware of what the residents were saying.

"I have only had relationships with individuals, I have never had a relationship where the Municipality chose me," said Administrator Danaj, denying that she was selected by the Municipality of Rrogozhina.

Even though the Rrogozhina municipality "washes" its hands of the individual grant scheme, the role and responsibility for the problems that have befallen residents still rests with the institution headed by Edison Memolla.

The latter is under indictment by SPAK for abuse of office and the Special Court has sentenced him to one year in prison and banned him from exercising public functions for 5 years. The mayor's lawyer has stated that he will appeal the decision.

While the mayor of Rrogozhina has problems with SPAK, residents of the Sinaballaj Administrative Unit say they have been left in the open and are suspicious of the way the process has unfolded.

On February 14, 2024, Memolla would sign individual contracts with the residents of Sinaballaj, who were obliged to use the funds received to build the apartments according to the format described by the Rrogozhina Municipality. A few days later, at the end of February 2024, these residents would sign contracts with the company “Duka Tr Construction” owned by Arta Danaj.

These contracts are private, notarized acts, where the municipality does not appear as a contracting party, and they stipulate that the construction company will carry out the reconstruction works against the amount of the grant received by the resident.

According to the documents, it is evident that the funds were distributed in two phases, namely 60% at the beginning and 40% after verification of the completion of the carbine or the relevant construction phase. However, the payment in installments is conditional on verifications by the municipal structures, which must analyze the real progress of the works. The grant contracts also provide for the municipality's obligation to supervise and the right to request the return of funds and the application of penalties in case of non-compliance.

In fact, from the beginning, the Municipality led by Edison Memolla has allowed the company without a professional license to demolish and rebuild the apartments in violation of the law. By certifying the phases of the works and allowing the disbursement of public grants, the institution has failed in its legal obligation to supervise and control the reconstruction process.

According to official registers of construction companies, 'Duka Tr Construction' is not listed in these documents.

When asked by "Vetting" on what legal basis she entered into construction contracts with residents, administrator Danaj responded by saying that it is not a condition for single-story apartments.

"There is no legal requirement for a one-story building. I have an engineer there, who is monitoring the works," said lawyer Danaj.

Even though we brought to our attention the provisions of the law, the company administrator insisted that there is no condition for the construction of one-story buildings.

"I have a construction technician, a construction engineer that I paid at the time and he monitored the works," said the administrator of "Duka Tr Construction".

But the company has violated the law by undertaking reconstruction works without being equipped with a professional license for the implementation of construction works. The Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 42, dated 16.01.2008 provides that construction works are carried out only by licensed entities, without exception for single-storey houses or reconstruction after an earthquake. Also, Law no. 107/2014, Article 45 stipulates that construction works and the implementation of the construction permit can only be carried out by licensed entities. Undertaking reconstruction contracts by an entity that does not appear in the Register of Implementation Companies constitutes a violation by the company.

Administrator Danaj did not deny the problems of Nexhmie Halili's new house, which she complained about the roof of the house.

journalism: Okay, what about Mrs. Nexhmie Halili?

Administrator Arta Danaj: Nexhmia only has the doors and windows and I ordered them and I will bring them to her.

journalist: So you didn't finish it as a project?

Administrator Arta Danaj: It only has doors and windows and is finished.

journalist: But when will Nexhmia's works be finished?

Administrator Arta Danaj: We'll finish them within a month, I've ordered the doors and windows depending on that guy who makes the doors and windows.

journalism: Do you know that Nexhmie's house has problems with the issue of water shortages, with rain?

Administrator Arta Danaj: I fixed it once, I insulated it and I'll insulate it again. It happened because of the concrete, I don't know, but I'll insulate it again.

journalist: According to you, you had problems with this gentleman, but with the Nexhmie issue, why did the process drag on for so long when you received the payments?

Administrator Arta Danaj: "From the debts that were built by Tomori, who took the money, I have done some of the construction for others and I have dragged them on... I dragged them on because I did it a little slowly."

Clashes between Arta Danaj and Tomor Myftaraj, accusations of fraud
Residents have stated that their houses have remained unfinished and Tomor Myftaraj, who was seen by residents as her collaborator, would also appear on the scene. Another problem that residents have encountered is that in order to complete the work on their houses, they have started to invest themselves, forcing them to drain their savings or, in the worst case, take out loans.

"Now we have gone to the municipality, we have complained to the municipality, and the problem is with the firm because there are two associates, a woman and a man, because I don't want to give the names for the moment, but... I will tell you the names. One is called Tomor, and the lady is called Arta, and they always point fingers at each other, "this one didn't get the money" or "this one didn't get the money". In other words, the blame remains orphaned, and the consequences are now paid by the residents to close the houses. Now what you see below, the installations, the tiles, the doors, we have done all this from our own pocket. Even the firm does not respond to us", said Ledi Sula.

Another resident of Sinaballaj, Shërbet Halili, who has completed the works himself, states the same thing.

"Once at the beginning, they took pictures of the apartment. It was necessary for demolition and they demolished it. And the works began. After they took 60%. 60% went away with the soles, with everything. There was 40% to be taken. Before lunch, this lady comes. In the afternoon, that gentleman comes, because they split up. They didn't split up to lose track, I don't know how they said that we are close people. One said don't give it to this person. When I saw the letter, it said administrator Arta Danaj. They brought about 12 meters of sand, cement, 13 casts, these are them. And when they started the work, they left half of it," Shërbet Halili told "Vetting".

From the picture presented by the residents, it is clear that the Municipality of Rrogozhina has evaded its responsibilities and obligations under the law for the Reconstruction program. To confront the statements of the residents and the administrator, "Vetting" communicated with the latter about the unfinished works and the issue of monitoring by the Municipality.

"They have resulted in being followed by the Municipality up to the 60% stage and the Municipality has followed them, they even called me, they said 'Art, did you take the money from those (residents)? No, I don't know who they gave it to, some say 'they gave it to Tomori', some... those are three apartments, in fact 4", said administrator Danaj.

Regarding citizen Tomor Myftaraj, the owner of "Duka Tr Construction" provided some clarifications due to the accusations from residents.

Journalisti: Have you subcontracted another person or company to carry out the work?

Administrator Arta Danaj: No, no absolutely not and I did not give them a power of attorney, nor a contract, nor anything else and without informing me, they did not respect the contract, but they dealt with someone else there and passed the money to him and I made more than I had in the contract.

journalist: Okay, if you came up with this issue, what is your relationship with Tomor Myftaraj? Have you contacted him, have you introduced him to carry out the work?

Administrator Arta Danaj: No! He was employed there.

journalism: Where?

Administrator Arta Danaj: He was employed at the company (Duka Tr Construction) until October last year and he got that money by deceiving them, even without my knowledge at all, absolutely without my knowledge at all.

journalism: Have you taken any action against this person?

Administrator Arta Danaj: I fired him immediately.

According to the company's administrator, Arta Danaj, Tomor Myftaraj took the money from the residents without their knowledge and it is not her responsibility.

The document provided by "Vetting" shows that Tomor Myftaraj and administrator Danaj had a confrontation, which ended at the Kavaja Police Station.

On November 7, 2024, the area inspector would question Tomor Myftaraj regarding the disputes that Arta Danaj had with the latter. In the letter, Myftaraj states that he has a construction business and has signed a contract for several families to rebuild homes damaged by the earthquake, while he has a contract that he signed with Ms. Danaj. At the end of the letter, Myftaraj admits that after contacting Administrator Danaj, he found a way to resolve the disputes with the latter.

From the data at the National Business Center, Tomor Myftaraj does not appear to have any business of his own, but his accounts are blocked and it remains a mystery which company he worked with to build these houses.