DP MP Belind Këlliçi, in his speech at today's session in the Assembly, expressed concern about the risk to the stability of the banking system but also the possibility of money laundering.

Këlliçi referred to Jet Bank, saying that the digital bank's shareholders have opened another company in Durana to avoid paying any taxes for the services they will provide to each other.

"Of course, those who have registered with this technology park, such as the JET TECH company, will now not only benefit from fiscal incentives with 0 taxes, but they are also being licensed to open ONLINE banks without physical counters.

As I informed you in the last session, I have addressed a new request for information to the Central Bank, requesting data on how today we have licensed a new bank with owners registered in offshore companies.

"But the case in question is even more serious because the ultimate owners have no connection whatsoever with banking experience, as required by the licensing regulations of our central bank, which in the case of JET BANK has been violated with both feet," said Këlliçi.

Addressing 14 questions to the head of the Albanian Financial Intelligence Agency regarding Jet Bank, the DP MP said that he requests the Central Bank to respond within the time limit set by law, and above all to make all the requested documentation available, as this mega financial scandal will neither be forgotten nor will Albanians be allowed to be robbed as in the case of microcredits.

Full statement

14 public questions for the head of the Financial Intelligence Agency of Albania regarding Jet Bank, addressed in today's speech by the Albanian Parliament!

Dear citizens,

Two sessions ago, I raised a very major concern related not only to the risk to the stability of the banking system but also to the possibility of money laundering.

Meanwhile, Socialist MPs last week approved legal changes for the infamous DURANA organized crime park.

Of course, those who have registered with this technology park, such as the JET TECH company, will now not only benefit from fiscal incentives with 0 taxes, but they are also being licensed to open ONLINE banks without physical counters.

So, the shareholders of Jet Bank have opened another company in Durana to avoid paying any taxes for the services they will provide to each other.

As I informed you in the last session, I have addressed a new request for information to the Central Bank, requesting data on how today we have licensed a new bank with owners registered in offshore companies.

But this is not the only problem, as you are used to licensing such companies in the banking system.

But the case in question is even more serious because the ultimate owners have no connection whatsoever with banking experience, as required by the licensing regulations of our central bank, which in the case of JET BANK has been violated with both feet.

The ultimate shareholders of the newest bank registered in Albania, according to public data but also AFSA announcements, have only had experience with FOREX platforms, even while carrying out unlicensed activities in Albania.

In my first request, the Central Bank naively acted as if it did not understand my questions, so in the request launched last week, I requested exhaustive information on whether this company has met the legal requirements for licensing.

Today, Parliament voted on several amendments to the law “On the Prevention and Laundering of Money and the Financing of Terrorism.” Over the years, laws have been changed with the sole purpose of combating this phenomenon, which is currently eroding the Albanian economy.

Of course, we are all aware that the problem the country has today is not due to the lack of a good legal basis, but because the institutions that should prevent it collaborate with criminal structures to allow and encourage it.

For years, the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime has raised the alarm about money laundering in every sector, especially in construction.

And while Albania has turned into a laundering machine for criminal money, the Financial Intelligence Agency, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Justice have not taken any concrete measures to stop this phenomenon that is leaving long-term consequences in our economy.

And to understand the government's approach, it is enough to see the thousands of permits approved by Edi Rama for companies with anonymous names and capital of 1000 euros for the construction of towers worth hundreds of millions.

Since today we had the next facade for the legal basis for money laundering, I invite you to join us in deepening the parliamentary investigation into the next scheme called Jet Bank.

I invite the head of the Financial Intelligence Agency to investigate the following:

1. Has the company Constador LTD filed the annual and consolidated balance sheets for the last 3 years in the application file? Who is the authorized accounting expert who performed their audit?
2. What is the scope of activity of the company CONSTADOR LTD and in which countries does it operate?
3. ​Are citizens Idan Avishai and Saniel Sanilevich connected to companies that provide Forex services?
4. Have these citizens and the companies associated with them engaged in unlicensed financial activity in Albania?
5. Was there any objection from the departments responsible for licensing during the evaluation of JET Bank's application?
6. Has the amount of 1 (one) billion lek been deposited with the Bank of Albania?
7. Were the funds transferred from the bank accounts of CONSTADOR LTD or citizen Idan Avishai?
8. How is the legality of the funds verified?
9. What is the country of origin of these funds?
10. Do these funds come from a bank registered in an offshore country?
11. The law stipulates that a certificate from the competent authorities must be submitted, which provides data on the company/individual's balance sheet and the regularity of payment of taxes and fees. Have such certificates been administered and which is the competent authority that issued them?
12. The law also stipulates that documentation or official records from the relevant authorities must be filed for the settlement of tax liabilities by the proposed shareholders. Has this documentation been filed for all shareholders and what is the authority that issued it?
13. The law stipulates that the Bank of Albania has the right to conduct independent verifications to prove the authenticity of the information provided by the person seeking to be licensed, in accordance with the provisions of this law. To this end, the Bank of Albania cooperates with the responsible domestic bodies and foreign supervisory authorities. Have these independent verifications been conducted and how?
14. With which law enforcement/responsible institutions, domestic or foreign, has there been communication to verify the legality of the funds and the reputation of the partners?

I very much hope that the Central Bank will respond within the time limit set by law, and above all, make all the requested documentation available to me, as this mega financial scandal will neither be forgotten nor will we allow Albanians to be robbed as in the case of microcredits.