The emergency is over, but the power problem has resurfaced Electricity company: “Many faults and materials are lacking.” Fines for Alitalia and Hotel Dajti: “They were abusing electricity” TIRANA - Tough measures against those who waste electrical energy. They are accompanied by drastic fines. Since the early hours of Monday morning, the Electrical Energy Inspectorate has been conducting inspections at institutions and other entities. At the same time, it has carried out its latest inspections. Many people, state institutions and private companies have been found to be wasting energy or using electricity outside the terms of the law. Among them are well-known names such as Hotel Dajti, Hotel Drini, the Alitalia air travel agency and the Vefa company, which have caused damage or failed to pay their contracts with the electricity office. All these entities have therefore been fined one million lekë by the inspectorate and, in some cases, had their electricity cut off. Meanwhile, electricity has exerted its full power over the capital. In recent days, power cuts have become more frequent, and electricity has necessarily been interrupted at certain times of the day. The periods when the lines are blocked have also left the lights out. Fines have increased, with specialized electricity teams also setting an example in order to reduce faults occurring at the same time. The drop in temperature at the end of last week brought an increase in electricity consumption in the mornings at the city intersections. As a result, outages on the network have also increased; for some time, these have been considered the main cause of faults in electricity supply lines. Although the Electrical Enterprise has made all its resources available to deal with these faults, with almost 80 specialized workers working in three shifts, the faults and problems have continued. Yesterday a breakdown blocked the voltage supply to the lighting system, because the electrical equipment had problems due to a shortage of equipment; consequently, part of the city was also left without service. “These are mostly due to a lack of materials, with damage to equipment becoming widespread.” Many people and companies have been penalized, and many inspections have been carried out. Electricity has been used improperly and without a contract, continually worsening the city's supply problems. On a quiet day, about 20 people finally appeared to deal with these issues. Among those left without electricity were Alitalia and Hotel Dajti. Fines were issued in all the cases identified, including Hotel Dajti. In several other cases, the company and the supply network to Tirana households, including those in parts of the city, were also inspected. Repairs to the electricity network began in 1993. Employees of the Electrical Enterprise expressed concern not only about electricity theft by some city residents, but also about faults caused by the heavy load. “These are mainly due to materials and the shortage of materials needed for the work,” the enterprise said. There are many faults in the electrical network and system. (p.re.) A desperate temptation: tampering with the meter... (photo H.Pustina)

TIRANA - The old Penal Code is living its final days. The new draft law passed its first test in Parliament yesterday and is expected to receive approval in principle. Only its technical aspects remain to be discussed. After that, everything will be concluded, and many new articles will be approved and come into force for the first time in Albania: penalties and their provisions, criminal offences and, accordingly, new limits on punishable conduct. The most notable change appears to be—according to the draft—in the structure of penalties, particularly capital punishment. Although the death penalty will remain in force, it will be paired with life imprisonment, thus remaining an alternative that may be applied only in extreme cases. New types of penalties and leniencies not previously applied in Albania are also envisaged: for example, the possibility that a person serve part of a sentence in prison—2–3 days a week—and the remaining part at home is highlighted. Another new alternative is suspension of the sentence under supervision on probation, or requiring the convicted person to perform work in the public interest. Instead of an expanded [text unclear], provisions are introduced concerning offences against the economy, smuggling, bankruptcy and the laundering of money derived from illegal activities. For the first time, extradition is also provided for by law, including the procedures and cases in which it is carried out.

THE ESCAPE — The fourth escapee has also been found at his home, while searches continue in every kilometre of the country Investigators have signed the arrest warrants TIRANA - Serious charges against employees of Tirana Prison and Unit 88. And 12 high-profile arrests, signed late last night by military investigators. The hunt for those who had escaped now appears to be over; they are suspected of having directly or indirectly helped with the mass escape, while the search for the 20 actual protagonists of the evening of 15 January ’95 continues successfully. For the third consecutive day, checks by the forces of the Ministry of the Interior proved successful and another escapee was added to the list of people rounded up from Tirana Prison. Meanwhile, the General Prison Administration—yesterday morning—issued special circulars calling for the strengthening of guard-duty rules in all Albanian prisons. On Monday, charges were brought against 11 employees of Tirana Prison and another employee of Unit 88: violation of guard-duty rules and “abuse of office.” The four escapees Gëzim Keli, [text unclear], Artur Xhemali, Kutim Murra and Tomori Hashxia—now returned to the cells of Tirana Prison—face the charges of “escape from the place of serving a sentence” and “concealment,” which carry a further three years in prison. “The situation has now been stabilized,” military investigators said, adding that all violations committed during the evening of 15 January were being verified. “However, because of the strict secrecy surrounding the investigation, it still cannot be confirmed which of last night's 12 detainees are accused of collaborating with the 20 prisoners, who are in this situation for the first time.” Hashxia—now returned to the cells of Tirana Prison—faces the charges of “escape from the place of serving a sentence” and “concealment,” which carry a further three years in prison. “The situation has now been stabilized,” military investigators said, adding that all violations committed during the evening of 15 January were being verified. “However, because of the strict secrecy surrounding the investigation, it still cannot be confirmed which of last night's 12 detainees are accused of collaborating with the 20 prisoners, who are in this situation for the first time.” “Outside assistance to help the escape is no longer just a hypothesis.” But while an officer and another non-commissioned officer at Tirana Prison—as well as an employee of Unit 88—had been held in custody for 48 hours, the arrest of 18-year-old Tomor Haxhia from Kryevë was urgently ordered. His temporary freedom for 48 hours after the escape of 15 January ended before he was sentenced in Tirana. Haxhia, sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder in Tirana, was found by forces from Police Station No. 3 at his home, somewhere near the “Petro Nini Luarasi” high school. Meanwhile, intensive checks continue at almost every kilometre of the country and at border crossing points. The Prison Administration Directorate issued a special circular yesterday requiring all Albanian prisons to urgently strengthen their guard-duty rules. According to officials at the institution, visits between prisoners—suspended after the escape of 15 January ’95—may resume as early as next week. (e.l) Yesterday's roadblock on the outskirts of Tirana (photo H.Pustina)

Many villages cut off TIRANA - A powerful wave of cold, almost polar, has gripped the entire north of the country. Mercury columns at all the stations in the northern regions have shown temperatures below zero. The record belongs to Peshkopi, where -12 degrees were recorded. Low temperatures and heavy snowfall have made communications between the centre and the villages difficult. Roads blocked by deep snow, fallen telephone poles and isolated villages: this is the general picture in the North. A television report from the district of Puka announced that villages in the communes had been cut off. Fiera and Blerimi are still isolated and having difficulty connecting with the rest of the country. This isolation has meant that the villages have been unable to take turns clearing the roads that connect them with the isolated areas, but relief efforts have continued. “They are clearing the snow further on, but there are few of them, and people are also stranded where they are, snowbound. In Lezhë, the greatest damage was caused by a strong windstorm,” although those who survived the cold winds were affected by damaged electricity poles; this time, people were frightened. The owners of the sheds showed ingenuity, protecting their property with large stones. (p.re.)

The brother of the young man wounded in Milan speaks LAÇ - It must be a merchant from Durrës who lent Tonin Ndoka 168 million lire. Ndoka, an Albanian, took a family in Milan hostage on Monday to get his money back. The detail was confirmed to “Gazeta Shqiptare” by the Ndoka family, who live in Rrëshen. “We want this merchant to come forward,” says Tonin's brother, Pashku. “We want to return the money to him, even though we don't know where to find him. We don't even know his business name. Unfortunately, our brother was the victim of a scam...” The person who swindled Tonin Ndoka was an Italian, Raffaele Lucio Clarelli, who gave the Albanian 200,000 counterfeit German marks in exchange for the 168 million lire. Clarelli is now wanted by the Italian police, while Tonin Ndokia is still in a Milan hospital under arrest; to free the family he was holding hostage (Clarelli's relatives), the carabinieri wounded him with a pistol shot. These days, Tonani is in Milan. In prison in Italy is also Tonin's cousin, Donika Deda, a protagonist in the same case. “Tomorrow fills us with anxiety,” Pashku Ndoka continues. “We want to return that money...” Tonin Ndoka's village does not seem to be falling apart; Tonin lives in a small town. (p.re.)

After the testimony TIRANA - “The ‘visit’ of Socialist leader Fatos Nano to the capital lasted only six days.” TIRANA - “The ‘visit’ of Socialist leader Fatos Nano to the capital lasted only six days. He has now returned to Tepelenë, where the trial process is under way...,” a diplomat at one of Tirana's two [text unclear] said. Several other meetings have now been held. Meanwhile, two things about the trip have become clear: a “testimony” for the prime minister. Although very brief, Nano's transfer coincided with the resumption of visits at Tirana Prison, which were immediately halted, including visits to all the prisoners. This time, Nano's detention in Tirana was not a spectacle for his family or for Socialist Party MPs. The package and the alibi—the meeting was refused. (e.l)

It had been a gift from the Chinese TIRANA - The truth about the aircraft at the Gjirokastër Museum has been uncovered. It was not a monument aircraft, but a separate structure, a “national aircraft.” After standing there for three decades, the so-called American aircraft, “from the Albanian discovery,” will be removed from the castle where it was kept as a museum object. The decision was taken these days by the Ministry of Culture. There had been two circulating accounts of its origins: the first claimed that the aircraft was an old American trophy, but another account said it was a city structure; the second—which has been confirmed as the real version—is that it was a gift from the Chinese. (Ar. Ça.)

Mystery surrounding the victim's identity GJIROKASTËR - A mysterious murder in Kakavi. An unidentified victim was found yesterday morning near the Greek border. According to the forensic examination, the victim was shot by as-yet-unknown individuals with a firearm. Notices from the Gjirokastër Police Commissariat state that the dead person was about 30 years old, 1.73 metres tall, with black, somewhat thinning hair. He was wearing a black jacket and colourless trousers. He was carrying no identification documents. Distinguishing marks include two operations on the abdomen. The prosecution authorities have opened a criminal case and are continuing their investigations to identify the perpetrators. (ra.)

SHKODËR - They were cutting wood when a rock suddenly rolled down and struck the two sisters who were nearby. According to officials, members of the Lulash Marku family were seriously injured, and a third person died. She was 14 years old, in Dukagjin. The incident made a great impression throughout the region. The family of the unfortunate sisters is in need of help. (ra.)

Supplementary pensions in Albania soon Draft law in Parliament ON PAGE 3 Earthquake in Japan: the toll of the tragedy The strongest in the last 75 years ON PAGE 2

Doctors' salaries stolen A theft also took place at Kukës hospital. Unknown persons emptied the cashbox containing all the salaries belonging to the hospital's employees. This was the first theft to occur at this institution, and all its consequences have been felt. The news was reported by a news agency in the city. This theft is one in Kukës. Here are the winning numbers of the “6 out of 45” lottery Here is a combination of numbers drawn for the “6 out of 45” lottery winners: 16, 15, 36, 13, 44. Dies inside a tanker The tragic death of a 60-year-old man in Elbasan. While he had gone inside to repair the tanker, he was taken to the city hospital in serious condition. Shoferi Beku had worked at this enterprise for a long time. (ra.)

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