Albania closes probe of ex-infrastructure minister over allegedly steered road and tunnel tenders
Albania's anti-corruption prosecutors, SPAK, told Belinda Balluku, a former deputy prime minister, on Oct. 28 that their investigation is finished. She is accused of steering nine public tenders, including the Llogara Tunnel and seven lots of the Big Ring Road around Tirana, and of corruption and money laundering.
The final charges, which SPAK notified on Oct. 20, cover 15 alleged episodes under five offenses: violating equal treatment of bidders in nine tenders, two forms of passive corruption, two counts of failing to declare or hiding assets, and laundering money through two properties, according to the prosecutors' statement as published by Albeu. Albanian Daily News reported the file is now ready for trial. Balluku, a former infrastructure and energy minister, has denied wrongdoing, and the charges are allegations.
Besides the tunnel and the ring road, the tenders include work on the technology building of Albcontrol, the air navigation agency Balluku once ran, reported at about €1.1 million. Estimates of the total differ. Albanian Daily News and Albeu cite media reports of about €1.2 billion for the nine procedures, while Tirana Times puts the contracts under scrutiny at more than €600 million.
Prosecutors also allege Balluku received a villa at the White Rocks complex in Dhërmi, which they value at €145,000, from a company that won an Albcontrol tender. A second villa, in Palasë, was allegedly renovated by a businessman whose construction firm won a Ring Road section in October 2021. Albanian Daily News reported that both villas were seized and that two men face money laundering charges tied to them.
Prime Minister Edi Rama dismissed Balluku on Feb. 26 after months of defending her. On March 12, parliament voted 82 to 47 against SPAK's request to authorize her arrest, and prosecutors have not asked again, Tirana Times reported.
Why it matters: For firms bidding public road and tunnel work in the Balkans, the case shows what prosecutors trace in steering cases: property that allegedly moved to an official around contract awards. Watch whether the Llogara and Ring Road contracts come under review as the case proceeds.
Sources
- SPAK closes investigation into Belinda Balluku, files five criminal charges!Albeu.com, Oct 28
- Albania's Former Deputy PM Faces Sweeping Corruption ChargesTirana Times, Oct 28
- Former Albanian Deputy PM to Face Trial Over Alleged €1.2 Billion Tender SchemeAlbanian Daily News, Oct 28