Former Durres mayor Vangjush Dako has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison by Albania’s Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime. The court also barred him from holding public office for five years, marking the end of a significant chapter in his political career.
Dako, who accepted a shortened trial process, faced charges of abuse of office linked to his time as mayor of the picturesque coastal city he led for three terms.
Delays and discrepancies in construction approvals
One case revolved around a high-rise building constructed before receiving a proper permit. Prosecutors revealed that the necessary approval was issued three years after construction had finished, with forged documents used to formalize the process retroactively.
Tender missteps in promenade project
The second case concerned a tender for a 21-million-lek seaside promenade project. Errors in cost estimations inflated the project’s budget significantly, and despite oversight reports from the State Supreme Audit Institution, no steps were taken to correct the issues.
A measured judicial outcome
While Dako’s legal team sought either an acquittal or a suspended sentence, the court ruled in line with the prosecution’s recommendations. Dako, arrested in June 2023, has been under house arrest since February 2024 after exceeding the allowed pretrial detention period.
Three other individuals involved—an administrator and two engineers—were convicted of forgery but received suspended sentences, allowing them to remain under probation instead of serving jail time.
Looking to the future
Dako, once a prominent member of the Socialist Party, has faced criticism for years. In 2019, the U.S. State Department banned him and his family from entering the United States due to allegations of significant corruption.
