Bardh Spahia, former head of the Shkodra Municipality, has reacted through a post on social networks after SPAK requested that the case against him be transferred to trial.
He calls the case against him ridiculous, saying he is accused of "failing to keep in office for several months a dismissed administrator who the court has ruled was legally dismissed."
"The SPAK case against me is ridiculous: it accuses me of not reinstating an administrator for whom the Supreme State Audit recommends "Removal from Duty."
The facts behind this accusation, without any comment, are these:
1. On May 16, 2022, as Mayor of Shkodra, I decided to dismiss the administrator of the Shkodra Water and Sewerage Company—a commercial company owned by the Shkodra Municipality. The dismissal was made after numerous complaints from citizens and a report by the State Audit Office that found violations and abuses in the water and sewerage system and recommended the removal of the director.
2. The administrator appealed to the court and the judge issued an order suspending the dismissal decision until the case is reviewed.
3. I respected the court's decision and waited until the Court of Appeals issued a ruling, which overturned the district court's decision and overturned the measure suspending the dismissal.
4. Then, I made the decision to dismiss the administrator.
5. In September 2023, the Shkodra Court dismissed the case and the former administrator did not even appeal the case to the Court of Appeal. Thus, the case was closed.
6. Three years later, and two years after I had left the office of mayor, in July 2024, the former administrator “remembered” to report me to the Shkodra Prosecutor’s Office for non-implementation of the court’s decision. The justification was that after the judge issued an order suspending the dismissal decision, I should have annulled the decision and reinstated the administrator until the court ruled.
7. The Shkodra Prosecutor's Office declared a lack of jurisdiction since the alleged "crime" was committed by a mayor and sent the lawsuit to SPAK.
8. SPAKU immediately took up this lawsuit, giving it great priority. I have been summoned four times for questioning about this “crime”.
9. I never thought this case would reach court, but today SPAK has taken it to trial.
To repeat it in simple words: SPAK accuses me of not keeping in office for a few months a dismissed administrator whom the court has ruled was dismissed legally!
This is ridiculous: The Anti-Corruption Prosecution accuses me of not keeping a person in the job who, according to the Supreme Audit Office, should have been fired.
"The lawsuit against me was launched politically to damage the DP in Shkodra. I will win the battle before justice. Together with the citizens of Shkodra, we will win on May 11 the political battle against crime and corruption that has invaded Shkodra and all of Albania," concludes Bardh Spahisa's reaction. (A2 Televizion)
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