Ninth suspect for Bank of Albania theft arrested

Bashkim Xhulaga, Director of the Stock Cash and of the Active Cash was arrested a few hours after the orders was issued, together with his former co-workers, Ardian Bitraj and Mimoza Bruzia, and a relative of him, the 27-year-old Klevis Bejtjaj.

The Prosecution is continuing with the investigations while the materials have been sent at the Tirana Court. This means that this weekend they will be brought to trial.

The Prosecution claims that Petrit Ramohitaj, Director of the Active Cash; Liljana Tusha, specialist at the Active Cash; Lavdim Cani, specialist of the Stock Cash; Myzejen Belba, specialist at the Stock Cash; Dhimiter Davidi, monitoring operator, and Bashkim Xhilaga, Director of both offices, with their actions and failure to act have enabled the theft of 713 million ALL, when they had the duty to coordinate the cash that went in and out the Stock Cash office.

The suspects have violated instruction no.714 of March 2014, and the respective manuals of the Emission Department, which put norms to the activity and functionality of the Bank personnel.

According to the Prosecution, the responsible for monitoring the cameras, Dhimiter Davidi, should have reported any anomaly. But after watching the security camera footage, it appears that he has seen Ardian Bitraj’s actions when he is seen filling plastic bags with money and moving them to the bathroom, where he hid them in his clothes, but has never reported these actions.

The two specialists of the Active Cash office, Petrit Ramohitaj and Liljana Tushaj, were tasked to check each day the situation, but they have not followed the procedures for a long time.

The employees of the Stock Cash, Lavdim Cani and Myzejen Belba, were tasked to follow the movement of the cash and safely keep the keys of the cash.

They haven’t completed their duty and all of the keys were kept by Ardian Bitraj, who has calmly stolen 713 million ALL in the past four years. Klevis Bejtjaj, a relative of Bitraj, was aware of the criminal activity. He was seen waiting for Bitraj outside the bank and picking him up with a car.

All the suspects will be forced to have their assets checked.

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