The cigarette scandal in court Investigators set out the charges against the PD deputy Tirana Prison EDMOND LAÇI TIRANA — The moment of truth is approaching for the cigarette scandal, which had accused and arrested — in addition to three other people — also the PD deputy and Chairman of the Albanian Youth Forum, Arden Lika. Last Saturday, in the name of the court, the indictment was entered into the record in the final file, by which the investigator establishes that he has sent the case to the prosecutor’s office. Only a few months have passed since the “Lika” file again fell into the jurisdiction of Tirana’s court, but also into the public eye as another mystery involving smuggled cigarettes, and humanitarian aid. Thus, only two months after the day when 633 cases of “Arda” cigarettes crossed the Kakavijë Customs on a truck — which was supposed to carry humanitarian aid for the Albanian Youth Forum — the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has concluded the investigation. “Smuggling for large profit and forgery of official documents” is the final charge chosen by the investigators for Lika and another Forum activist, Edmond Sheno. Meanwhile, the head of the authority over the cigarettes deemed smuggled, Hajredin Halili, and the trader Edmond Meçe, have been charged only with “Smuggling for large profit”. According to the indictment, which has emerged from a prefecture, the value of the cigarettes hidden as goods of a hygienic nature exceeds 90 thousand dollars, while for three other people incriminated under the same charges — the same case has been split off and warrants have been issued for them. “And now we can trace the middleman’s name; the final charges have still not been determined; the Lika file still remains a mystery.” “As long as the case has not reached the court,” Lika’s lawyer tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “I cannot comment in detail. I can only say that my client stands by what was said earlier when his immunity was being discussed.” “On this matter,” he says at the end, “I am innocent.” So only the trial remains, the final day of truth for this story. It had begun amid a stir, with the detention of 12 people and the arrest of five of them — and with accusations deliberately aimed, since the evening of 21 September ’94, also at deputy Arden Lika. The regular state documents submitted at customs for the crossing of the vehicle concluded[] the scandal, which left under the shadow of a network under a “post-arrest file” only the Director of Customs. Now the court must examine the file, Lika and the three other defendants, the proceedings of public opinion, the truth. Even though since Saturday it is much closer.

Leaflets over the South TIRANA — The crazy 39-minute flight over Albanian territory carried out on the morning of 21 August ’94 by a Greek helicopter with crew cost two Albanian officers 75 days in prison. The Military Court of Tirana found them guilty of “abuse of office”. The news was made public by Bërdi Meta; the two Albanian servicemen — on the morning when anti-Albanian leaflets were dropped from the Greek pirate helicopter as it flew over the Sarandë-Himarë-Vlorë areas — were carrying out their duties in the Command Group and the Central Command Post of Air Defense. According to the indictment, the violation of Albania’s airspace by the Greek helicopter was not only immediately verified by the Albanian military structures, but there was every possibility that the country, for two minutes and 15 seconds, would have been... “Meta’s base did not take measures for this second issue, failing to raise the number of Albanian aircraft on alert,” the judges said in their ruling, and this time they did not let the two accused servicemen off, who in their defense stated that “the information about the violation of Albania’s airspace by the Greek helicopter was not accurate.” The court turned the 39 minutes of the morning of 21 August of this year into 75 days in prison, while Monday’s decision requires 43-year-old Berd Bare and 46-year-old Meta, arrested since 31 August ’94, to remain behind the bars of Tirana Prison for a few more days. (Ed. La.)

The number of affected patients rises Elbasan, the tragedy toll reaches 17 Psychiatric hospital ELBASAN — The number of cholera victims in Elbasan’s psychiatric hospital has risen to 17. Over the past weekend, the epidemic has claimed three more patients of this hospital, which for more than 10 days has become a true scene of death. At the same time, many patients were admitted to other rooms and had no symptoms at all. After the first 13 victims and the immediate preventive measures taken by the hospital staff and the Ministry of Health itself — increasing the number of deaths, nurses and even vaccinating the patients’ children — it had seemed that the cholera outbreak was being contained, only for it to reappear today with the same force and speed, once again demonstrating how dangerous it is. The virus’s impact on the latest victims has been much more severe, so much so that it has nullified the medical staff’s own efforts. During these days, the number of new patients affected by the epidemic has also increased. While some of the sick had begun to improve, others have again started showing symptoms of cholera. By Monday, the number of patients who ended up in isolation rooms had reached 44 cases. Their condition is not considered serious, with the exception of one whose life remains in question and who is being treated intensively. Doctors themselves confirm this situation: “Some of the patients can now be considered out of danger,” Leonard Bërdufi, the hospital director, told Gazeta Shqiptare, “but we continue to keep all the patients under care.” Meanwhile, the cholera issue in Albania has attracted the attention not only of specialized international institutions. In recent days it was the municipality of Bari that sent significant quantities of chlorine to Tirana and Fier. They were accompanied to Albania by a delegation led by municipal councilor Lucio Albergo. Me. Ki.

Tirana, a new service begins Initiative: doctors who treat at home for free TIRANA — “To ease pain and care for the sick at home.” This is the goal that a group of doctors from the capital has set for itself. Starting from 1 October, a new health service has been put into operation in Tirana to help severely ill cancer patients. “Our task is to stand by these patients in their difficult moments — Vladimir Bozgo tells Gazeta Shqiptare — by treating them at home, with hospital medicines and advice, so as to relieve the pain caused by the disease they suffer from. And all of this is free.” The basis of this health service — a branch of the Italian National Association for Tumours — is compassion and solidarity with patients in serious condition. They are attended by the doctors of this group — 3 specialists and 2 nurses — for a period of 3 to 6 months, carrying out all the necessary treatments. And what is most important is that in this case the doctors assure the patient, whose condition is hopeless, that the last moments of life will pass without pain, with medical help close at hand, and that the person will not feel alone and abandoned by people.

— The escape of the two brothers from Durrës, accused of killing one of their cousins, lasted only a very short time. Z.Z., 34, and Sh. R., 35, were detained a few hours later after the murder for which they are now accused. According to police sources, a few hours before being detained they had quarrelled with this cousin and stabbed him, causing his death.

4,000 USD of the Electricity Company disappear ELBASAN — He came up with a completely “original” solution to pay for the long journey. 4,000 dollars collected from villagers’ payments to the Cërrik Electricity Enterprise were seized by the very person who was supposed to safeguard them, the accountant of this enterprise in the commune of Shalës. The accountant had long dreamed of emigrating to Switzerland. But money always got in the way. To cover all the expenses, the sum seemed enormous. The enterprise, now even poorer after the loss of the 4,000 dollars, had been forced to turn to the justice authorities. In the cash desk of this unfortunate enterprise there are still about 4,500 unpaid payments that debtors — the enterprise — have not yet paid, because there are no people. After the denunciation, the family of the accountant — the Çepa family from the village of Xibrak — thought they would untangle the complicated knot into which this case had entered. They began to repay the debt gradually, and, as always. The waters of many rivers in Switzerland together with the money taken from the enterprise’s cash box — it caused.

Municipality project TIRANA — Public toilets in the capital will also be privatized. By being assigned to various individuals, they will be turned into modern service properties. A decision by the branch of the National Privatization Agency, with the conditions set out recently, has established the criteria and procedures that will make the change of ownership possible. Throughout the city of Tirana, 16 public toilets have been among the most frequently used, but here they will be handed over to interested parties on lease for up to 16 years. Meanwhile, the new owners will have many obligations. They will not have the right to change the venue’s intended use. On the other hand, the future toilets must be equipped with the most necessary fixtures, both natural and artificial. They must also have hot water and electricity systems, as well as clean premises, accompanied by better furnishings. A future toilet may be rented in the center for one year. It is around 50 thousand lek a month and a few qindarka a month; this amount seems likely to be higher. In addition to the rent, the new owners will have to meet other social obligations to the state. According to the decision, a payment of 10 percent of the profit must be made, while the others will be used for civilized service. (J. P.)

— The wave of crime that has troubled Sarandë these days has now been solved. At the center are minor adolescents involved in multiple thefts within a few days. The city police on the Ionian coast detained a few days ago E.A., 17, from I.P. and S.V., both 14 years old. According to preliminary information from the police, obtained by city authorities, all three are considered the authors of thefts in private units in recent months. Thefts that had caused panic among Sarandë traders. At first an organized and experienced gang was suspected, but the later investigation led to the trail of the three adolescents.

YESTERDAY IN ALBANIA Macedonian military delegation in Albania The service of the General Staff of the Macedonian army, General Dragoljub Boçinov and other Macedonian military personnel met with their Albanian counterparts at the Qafë Thanë border crossing. According to the ATSH agency, the two delegations “exchanged information about their respective armies, focusing on the units, structure, personnel training and exercises, as well as the basic reasons for exchanging experience of interest to both sides.” The Macedonian military delegation continued its visit around Albania. According to the same announcement, it visited historical centers as well as difficult military facilities, leaving an impression of respect for the preparation and exchange of experience in this area. Death on a bicycle: a driver detained The voices come shortly after from a car while the bicycle with his bicycle. It happened yesterday evening in the village of Patok. The fatal neighborhood of Gjiresitit was victim of the accident, a resident Curri ?[?] V. Later from the village Curri in the outskirts of Albania, which testified to the driver’s detention. This is in addition to the mentioned in the truck? Nearby person so long ago after a short time lost his life. He died after a short time lost his life. He lost his life. The vehicle driven by ?[?] of the driver from

Label piracy in the market: beverages too are being counterfeited TIRANA — Piracy in the beverage market. Labels and packaging from reputable products have become prey for counterfeiters. This concern was raised by the General Directorate of Financial Police. On the labels and bottles of well-known brands, speculative sellers have started trading beverages produced in some small workshop, without any guarantee for consumers’ health. And in this case, the authority of mafia-like brands such as Coca Cola or the cognac “Skënderbeu” has been played with. The most typical case of this label piracy was identified in Elbasan. Inspectors from the financial police uncovered several cases of sales from a bar that was trading cognac produced by the company “Djata” but labeled as “Skënderbeu”. There was only one bottle with the famous label, but it had been economically produced to meet customers’ demands. Once emptied, the bottles were refilled in the back room with “Djata” cognac, which “turned into” “Skënderbeu” cognac as if by magic. A complaint has also reached the General Directorate of Financial Police from the Italo-Albanian company “aquila liquori”, which is seeking protection. Unknown producers (ghosts) have put on the market their own beverages disguised with the bottles and labels of this company. The same concern has also been expressed by the famous Coca Cola. Some small street vendors have been seen in various parts of the capital selling deceptive beverages, hidden in Coca Cola bottles. Meanwhile, with the domestic product there was also something else. It continues to be sold in unlabelled bottles, keeping its anonymity, and the Financial Police has been notified, warning that the factory will be shut down if the sale continues to remain nameless. Andrea Stefani

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