Albania’s former Environment Minister Lefter Koka is facing a four-year prison sentence after being charged with mishandling the controversial Tirana incinerator deal. The prosecution claims Koka gave a company a big bonus without checking the costs properly, letting them get away with a dodgy deal.
Koka, along with other former officials, is accused of leaking information to the company before the official bidding started, giving them an unfair advantage. It’s also claimed the project’s costs were faked, with waste disposal fees pushed up by 29 Euros per ton.
The prosecution wants Koka and four others banned from public office for five years. Three others may face two years behind bars, but two women could get probation instead.
The trial is still ongoing, with other big names like Klodian Zoto under investigation. The next hearing is in two weeks, where the defense will present their case.
