Albania’s former well being minister accused by prosecutors of corruption in authorities undertaking

TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s former well being minister, who’s being investigated for alleged corruption, should report back to police and never go away the nation, prosecutors mentioned Saturday.

Prosecutors with the nation’s Particular Courtroom In opposition to Corruption and Organized Crime mentioned Ilir Beqaj ought to report back to prosecutors each Friday and will not use his passport or identification card to go away the nation. The particular prosecution company was created in 2019 to deal with corruption and different crime {cases} involving senior officers.

Beqaj, 55, resigned his submit as head of a authorities company coordinating worldwide help. He was the minister of well being from 2013-2017 as a part of the governing Socialist Celebration of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Beqaj is accused of corruption and abuse of energy in a young on a authorities undertaking to sterilize medical objects. He has denied the accusations however mentioned he would respect the prosecutors’ order. He additionally resigned from the federal government submit.

Preventing corruption has been post-communist Albania’s Achilles’ heel, strongly affecting the nation’s democratic, financial and social growth. New judicial establishments have launched a number of investigations into former senior authorities officers allegedly concerned in corruption. One former minister served a jail time period.

Former prime minister and president Sali Berisha, now a lawmaker, can also be accused of corruption, however he has defied prosecutors’ orders to report and to not go away the nation, saying they need to first ask the parliament.

Different former ministers and mayors have additionally been arrested or are beneath investigation on corruption costs.

___

Comply with Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini