The suspension of the “Tropoja” file by SPAK does not simply close the investigation into the murder of the Haklaj brothers.,
but it risks ultimately removing Sali Berisha from criminal responsibility for a series of crimes
for which it has been reported, bringing the cases to the statute of limitations.
This was announced in the show “Studio Live” on Report TV by lawyer Idajet Beqiri,
who represents the Haklaj family.
According to Beqir, the suspended file is only a part of the cases in which the former prime minister was referred. He claimed that in 26 out of about 30 criminal proceedings, Sali Berisha is the first accused as the organizer of the crimes and that all these proceedings have been suspended.
“It's not just about the murder of the Haklaj brothers or the murder of 2 other brothers, but it's about 30 criminal proceedings, in which in 26 of them the first accused, the organizer of these crimes, is Sali Berisha and his criminal organization. These 26 criminal proceedings are from May 10, 1998. Reports have also been made by my clients, such as Izet Haxhia, but there are also other murders in Tropoja, which has Sali Berisha in command. All these criminal proceedings have been suspended”, said Beqiri.
The lawyer claims that the “Tropoja” file has also been suspended without the investigations being exhausted. As an argument, he says that the Haklaj family presented 24 witnesses, but SPAK interrogated only four of them.
“The 33 pages of SPAK's decision to suspend the case, the final goal is to exclude Sali Berisha and the criminal organization from the most serious and macabre murders, to pass it as they have passed the statute of limitations, that is, to prescribe the crime. We gave 24 witnesses and SPAK only asked 4, which we took. It does not investigate the case. Only the evidence presented by Berisha himself is enough”, he declared.
Beqiri further raised the accusation that the murders for which the Haklaj family accused Berisha had political motives, connecting the conflict with Fatmir Haklaj.
“He was asked about the murder of Sokol Haklaj and the guard in Milot. Berisha said with his own mouth: ‘They blocked my way, I did not turn back and killed them’. So the murders are political, because Fatmir Haklaj did not respond to his call to take up arms and rush to the south of Albania. Saliu killed them one by one”, said Beqiri.
The lawyer also legally opposes the suspension, with the argument that such a decision can only be taken after the investigations and evidence have been exhausted, which according to him did not happen.
“There is also a law for the suspension of investigations. It is Article 362 which has 2 conditions that say when the investigations have been exhausted and all the evidence has been taken and the perpetrator is not found, then in such a situation the investigation is suspended. SPAK has not taken any action, so why are they suspending it?”, he said.
The Haklaj family has appealed the decision to the GJKKO, while Beqiri warned that he will pursue the case at all levels of the judiciary, up to Strasbourg.
“I have filed an appeal request and I will follow all stages of the trial. I will also continue with Strasbourg. We will not part with it because it is an extremely serious wound. In this proceeding, the investigation for Remzi Hoxha has also been suspended. It is ridiculous, serious, murderous for the rule of law,” concluded Beqiri.
