The data obtained from the SPAK investigation into the former head of the Albanian Road Authority, Evis Berberi, also raises doubts about the quality of the works on the Llogara tunnel and its safety. After an inspection at the site in July 2022, Ioannis Kirkinezis, the Greek representative of the company supervising the works on the Llogara tunnel, was shocked. He wrote in alarm to the head of the Albanian Road Authority, Evis Berberi, that things were getting worse and worse with the project.
"Evis...the contractor must understand that the project is not just a "hole", but is a tunnel which must be built according to international specifications and practices in ABSOLUTE respect for SAFETY issues..."
The complaints culminate in November 2022, when the Greek engineer reports alarming safety violations, such as the fact that the contractor was pouring “concrete without steel. Not reinforced.” He also warns Berber that the new ventilation design had “no provisions for fire cases,” adding that this would endanger the lives of passengers.
"The Contractor's new proposal only deals with normal operating conditions, without any provisions for fire cases. If such an incident occurs, there will certainly be casualties," the Greek supervisor further writes.
The messages exchanged between Kirkinezis and Berber reveal a complicated relationship. They date back to August 2021, after the Ministry of Infrastructure opened the tender for the supervision of works on the Llogara tunnel, with a limit fund of 196.2 million lek.
The winners of the tender were announced as the company "Hill International" represented by Kirkinezis and "Net Group" sh.pk, but the Special Prosecution claims that this is another manipulated tender after the one for the construction of the Llogara tunnel and accuses Berber of predetermining the winner.
According to the investigation, after the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy paid the company “Hill International NV” (branch in Albania) for supervision services, the latter transferred part of the payments to “Net Group” sh.pk. Until November 2024, “Net Group” has benefited from around 74.3 million lek from “Hill International”, but of this money, 19.2 million went to the company DAAM, which the prosecution says was de facto owned by Evis Berberi. The transfers were justified with fictitious invoices for “specialist for the Llogara tunnel”.
According to the Special Prosecution Office, a long list of experts from Greece who were declared to supervise the tunnel works never crossed the border. Similarly, a number of Albanian experts who were supposed to work for the company Net Group were never in Llogara. The prosecution says that those who did the supervision were different from the list with which the companies won the tender.
Former head of the Albanian Anti-Corruption Agency, Evis Berberi, was sent to trial in June of this year along with 18 other people for the criminal offenses of corruption, abuse of office and money laundering.
In a larger scheme, also revealed by messages on Berber's phone, the latter and Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku are accused of being involved in predetermining the winner of the tender for the construction of the Llogara tunnel.
