Driza and Xhaferri taken to the police station
People waiting at the closed counters of the “Populli” foundation
In recent months alone, peasants and poor people have deposited money at the foundation’s counters
“200 million USD deposited with Xhaferri”
Major operation across the country. Around 50 branch managers taken to the police station. Money and documents seized
The heads of “Populli” and “Xhaferri” are suspected of having operated pyramid schemes
On page 3
Last night, police searched the homes and offices of employees of “Populli” and “Xhaferri”
On page 3
Branch managers in the districts of Shkodër, Vlorë, Berat and Fier have not escaped the operation
On page 3
Kopliku: “No commission can handle the usury schemes”
PD deputy against the Halili commission
“200 million USD deposited with Xhaferri”
In recent months alone, peasants and poor people have deposited money at the foundation’s counters
Xhaferri”
An employee speaks: “It is suspected to be a pyramid scheme”
In front of the “Xhaferri” counters
On page 3
“Enough with usury: take your money back”
Tirana, Cenaj & Co returns the capital. The company has announced that it will no longer take money through usury schemes. It is distributing its creditors’ capital and interest in order to bring usury down to zero
Tirana, Cenaj & Co returns the capital
“Enough with usury: take your money back”
The company has announced that it will no longer take money through usury schemes. It is distributing its creditors’ capital and interest in order to bring usury down to zero
On page 3
Vejsiu in favor of the Commission
Ylli Vejsiu
Vejsiu in favor of the Commission
TIRANA - “Pelingu cannot do the job of Halili.” Ylli Vejsiu expresses his optimism about the creation of the Government Commission that will decide the fate of the post-usury schemes. “It is a complementary body that will supplement the work of the Pelingu Commission,” adds the PD Organizational Secretary. According to him, this pairing combines an information system with decision-making. While the Transparency Commission operates within the bounds of investigation and gathering all information relating to the companies, the Government Commission will operate within the bounds of making decisions.
On page 9
Hajdari’s accusations
Bashkim Kopliku
HAJDARI’S ACCUSATIONS
TIRANA – The scandal of usury is now also on the agenda of Hajdari’s trade union. Yesterday, a meeting of the National Council of BSPSH discussed and sought solutions to what the meeting called a “national tragedy for the Albanian economy.” With analyses, comments and then specific demands, the trade unionists sympathetic to the PD deputy came forward yesterday. Hajdari’s direct accusations concerning the consequences of pyramid schemes in Albania were thus directed at the negligence of the government and of the firms or foundations themselves which, as he put it, had deceived an entire people.
On page 9
The championship resumes on Saturday
GAZETA SPORT
On pages 5–8
State Audit denounces violations of the law in ’96
Millions lost in customs and privatization
TIRANA – Damage and breaches of financial discipline have caused the state a loss of around 650 million lek, at a time when more than 24,000 people have been assigned to compensate it.
These are more general figures reflecting the results of the State Audit for 1996. A report that Blerim Çela, head of the State Audit, is expected to present to Parliament today has formulated serious criticisms, covering a broad range, of the incompetence and corruption of various state institutions and bodies. A thousand areas are criticized: the budget, taxes, customs, public-fund procurement, privatization, the banking system and even the justice system.
“Executive bodies take a lenient stance toward lawbreakers, while criminal cases are demonstrably being delayed” — this is the first accusation set out in Çela’s report.
On page 11
Yeltsin “passes” the test
FROM THE WORLD
Russian Duma
Yeltsin “passes” the test
On page 2
TOB changes its façade
ENTERTAINMENT
Opera Theatre
TOB changes its façade
On page 4
