Veliaj’s wife, Ajola Xoxa, also appeared before the court, where she was placed under house arrest. She is facing similar charges, including money laundering and hiding assets. Investigators claim that Xoxa used her connections with companies and NGOs to illicitly funnel public funds.
The court will soon decide on measures for six other businessmen implicated in the scheme, including Elman Abule, who is in jail on money laundering charges. The others, Gentian Sula, Meriman Palushi, Fatmir Bektashi, Sokol Kryeziu, and Shkëlqim Fusha, have been assigned mandatory reporting for corruption accusations.
SP members rallied outside the court in support of Veliaj, chanting in solidarity. Veliaj was arrested on February 10 during a raid at his municipal offices, accused of running a corrupt network with his wife and a group of businessmen.
Xoxa, who was in Italy at the time of Veliaj’s arrest, returned to Albania to face house arrest. Upon landing at the airport, she was immediately taken into custody.
SPAK’s investigation revealed that the couple used funds from the city of Tirana for personal gain, pocketing over €1 million. It also uncovered lavish spending by Xoxa, including €860,000 on clothes and jewelry, none of which were declared. The authorities also seized a villa in Qerret and two of Xoxa’s bank accounts containing over €869,000, along with a large sum of cash.
