Businessman Edmond Bego, or Manoli Bega, who was sentenced in Italy as a member of Aldo Bare’s criminal organization, was sentenced to 21 years in prison by the Italian authorities.
After coming to Albania, his sentence was changed to four years in prison, by a Supreme Court Judge panel made of five members, all of whom were left outside the system after the Vetting Process of the Judicial Reform.
Judges Gani Dizdari, Fatos Lulo and Besnik Imeraj were not confirmed by the Vetting process to keep doing their duty. Judge Majlinda Andrea was fired for corruption, while Judge Andi Celiku resigned from the justice system before undergoing the vetting process.
Bego is the most privileged member of Aldo Bare’s gang, since Aldo Bare himself was sentenced to life in prison; and Enver Dondollaku, another member, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Besides the procedures used by the Supreme Court for reducing his sentence, another fact is that in September 2010, Bego’s lawyer, Ardian Leka, said that Italy didn’t want their sentence to be recognized in Albania, but simply to have him extradited.
While the extradition request is refused, the Supreme Court ruled, as argued by judge Fatos Lulo, that Edmond Bego benefits from an amnesty. Bego has also escaped the antimafia law, which confiscates his assets for being involved in drug traffic and organized crime.
Bego was arrested while returning to Albania from his holidays in Greece. He was kept in prison by the Greek Court, waiting for his extradition documents in Italy.
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