Tomorrow the government will set the reimbursement procedures Vefa halves the administration staff’s salaries: “From 1 February, the company’s interest rate will be 3 percent” Just a few hours to go before 5 February. The government commission’s decision will seal the fate of the “lost” money The head of “Populli”: “The court has not declared bankruptcy. The deposits cannot be touched. Yesterday, once again, from prison to the office” On page 3 Tomorrow the reimbursement dilemmas will be resolved. The exact percentage clients will get back will be set On page 2 A service counter at the “Populli” foundation Xhaferri Driza A service counter at the “Populli” foundation; Xhaferri; Driza

Yesterday, the Magnani trial in Laç

Here is why the court rejected the division of the company Gjallica, divorce to escape seizure The Municipality of Vlora, destroyed by protesters

REPORTAGE After the mass protests: fear, but also hope On page 9 LUSHNJE A wave of arrests in the “rebel” city Football and the press—the other two major interests of the people of Lushnje BERAT Still searching for those responsible for Sunday Soldiers wearing helmets keep watch over buildings. Few people in the city

Yesterday, the Magnani trial in Laç Xhaferri A service counter at the “Populli” foundation court: “I want mercy” LAÇ - “I want mercy! I admit the crime and feel deep remorse.” The preliminary statement by the defendant Roberto Magnani—who had no prior criminal record in Italy—“compelled” the trial panel to conduct the judicial investigation against him under an expedited procedure. Magnani, the 40-year-old Italian from Ravenna, is accused of illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful deprivation of liberty. Magnani appeared in the courtroom wearing the same clothes he had on 15 December last year, when he became the protagonist of the extraordinary incident. In love with an Albanian girl from Korça—they had met in Italy, where she was engaged in prostitution—he committed the crime because he feared he might lose her. According to the prosecutor in the case, Selim Kaloshi, Magnani divorced his wife because of his girlfriend and came to Albania with the idea of marrying her and going into business. The couple settled last autumn in a rented house in the city of Lezhë, but after some time they realized that their business plans in Albania had not produced the expected results. Magnani called Italy and received a call there by telephone: “My love, I’ve left you; I’m going to Greece.” The prosecutor explained that immediately after his girlfriend called him—she was pregnant—Magnani set off for Durrës to buy a firearm from an unknown person, and travelled toward Lezhë with a Zastava automatic rifle and 60 cartridges. On 15 December he went to the home of a resident of Milot and, after presenting himself as a friend, put the family in a situation involving the automatic weapon, repeatedly demanding the address of his girlfriend. The house was surrounded by special police forces, which after two hours managed to overpower him and place him under arrest and charge him.

LAÇ - The background of E. M., 20, Magnani’s girlfriend, remains a complete mystery; she was arrested just two days after him. She was pregnant in a cell at the Lezhë police station, which she could not understand. Prosecutor Kaloshi says another incident involving her is also expected. The woman had previously been married in Pogradec and divorced her first husband. Magnani came to Pogradec, apparently forgiven, with another friend of his; he met her, and they met in Albania. She was pregnant with another child by an Italian, and they had arranged to leave. But Magnani had made her feel distressed. The whole matter, according to information received from the protocol, is being investigated by us. This was the year she became involved in family life. And her former husband lives in Magnanin E.

SPORTS GAZETTE Lushnja in crisis; fans stand by the team Xhaferri promises from prison to settle all outstanding obligations On pages 5–8

Market Usury drives up prices TIRANA – A sharp rise in prices in the wholesale market. Almost all items arriving from abroad have been marked up by wholesalers. On page 4

Soldiers wearing helmets keep watch in buildings. Few people in the city On page 9