The Albanian court decides that the mayor of Capital must remain in custody during corruption investigation

Tirana, Albania (AP) – An Albanian court decided on Wednesday that the mayor of the capital should remain in custody while investigating it for corruption that involves public funds.

The Special Court of Corruption and Organized Crime, which manages cases that involve the main officials and politicians, arrested Mayor Erion Veliaj on Monday for accusations of corruption that involve at least 1.1 million euros ($ 1.13 million) of public funds allegedly granted to the companies that in return gave his family illegal profits.

Veliaj has rejected the accusations, saying “neither I nor my family are related to the word ‘corruption’.”

The accusations against Veliaj, a senior figure in the leadership of the Government Socialist Party, have become a political debate before the parliamentary elections of May 11.

The opposition states that it was its protests and weekly accusations that convinced prosecutors to launch the investigation.

The leader of the Socialist Party, Edi Rama, who is also Prime Minister, considered the case of Veliaj as a political attack three months before the polls. Rama said that his statements about the double ratings of the Judiciary will make public, as in the case of this Veliaj.

The council of the Superior Court, the governing body of the Judiciary, asked the political groups not to attach the prosecutors and judges.

Veliaj, in his third term as mayor, has also served as a minister in the branch cabinet.

Last year, Albania began discussions with the European Union on alignment with the EU on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption. Graft has spoiled the country’s development. Albania aims to join the block by 2030, according to Rama.

The judicial institutions created with the support of the EU and the United States have launched several investigations on senior government officials that allegedly involved in corruption, including former president and prime minister Sali Berisha, former President Ilir Meta and others.