Albania’s Special Court of Appeals has sentenced former Environment Minister Lefter Koka and ex-MP Alqi Bllako for abuse of office, overturning prior acquittals in a high-profile corruption case tied to the Elbasan waste-to-energy plant.
Koka’s 10-year sentence was reduced to 6 years and 8 months under a shortened trial, while Bllako’s 4-year term was reduced to 2 years and 8 months. Both were found guilty of misusing public office in connection with the controversial Elbasan project, part of a series of waste incinerator deals in Albania under scrutiny for alleged corruption.
Albania’s anti-corruption agency, SPAK, had appealed the initial acquittals, pushing for accountability in the case. The court also upheld asset seizures related to the accused, marking them for state confiscation. The verdicts highlight Albania’s efforts to enforce transparency and rule of law, as the country pursues its EU membership ambitions.
Corruption remains a pressing concern in Albania, with public scrutiny on officials accused of exploiting public projects. These latest convictions signal intensified efforts to hold former officials to account.
