On October 17th, Top Channel was the first media to report details about the Habilaj case. Since that day, the political cycle has continued its process, and the investigation against the Habilaj gang members as well, while former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri had his residence searched and was questioned by the Prosecution.
The former Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, had his own version of how the case was made public.
“Rama gave the case to Top Channel and Top Channel becamse Tahiri’s persecutor”, Berisha said.
But what was the truth? The first one to public the court verdict for Habilaj case were Italian journalists of Meridionews. Dario De Luca tells how everything started and he responded to former PM Berisha.
“Everything started with a press release from the Guardia di Finanzia, which announced the arrest of Italian and Albanian traffickers. We were able to take the main details of the investigation and we gave the news that among the suspects were two cousins of the former Minister”, Dario de Luca.
Top Channel: Former PM Berisha said that Prime Minister Rama was the one giving the case to Top Channel. What is the truth, since you were the first to learn about this investigation?
Dario De Luca: We absolutely rebute the declaration of the former Albanian Prime Minister. After we published the news, we cooperated with Top Channel. Top Channel asked us the documents and we passed it to our Albanian colleagues, who made deeper investigations.
Top Channel: From what you have seen from the documents, is there an investigation for Saimir Tahiri?
Dario De Luca: There are no suggestions for investigation. They referred to him in two cases. The Saimir who is mentioned in another part is a truck driver”
Top Channel: They refer to him only twice?
Dario de Luca: Yes, Saimir is mentioned in the investigation documents, in some parts.
Top Channel: The former Interior Minister, to be specific?
Dario De Luca: Yes, the former Minister. He is mentioned in some parts. In one part, they refer to the money and they speak about Saimir. According to Guardia Di Finanza, this is the former Minister. In another part they refer to this name, but they speak about a truck driver.
Top Channel: Is it him?
Dario De Luca: It cannot be him.
Top Channel: Do you think that 12 arrests conclude the action against this group? Ore there will be other investigations?
Dario De Luca: The investigation will continue. There have been 21 drug busts and this network of drug dealers cannot be limited to only 12 people.
Top Channel made an official request to the Guardia di Finanza, for an official stance on the investigation, but bureaucracies for taking a permit from Rome made it impossible for an answer. However, the group is now considered destroyed.
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