Current:Home > NewsAlbania’s former health minister accused by prosecutors of corruption in government project -VisionFunds
Albania’s former health minister accused by prosecutors of corruption in government project
View
Date:2025-04-19 07:34:48
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s former health minister, who is being investigated for alleged corruption, must report to police and not leave the country, prosecutors said Saturday.
Prosecutors with the country’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime said Ilir Beqaj should report to prosecutors every Friday and may not use his passport or identity card to leave the country. The special prosecution agency was created in 2019 to handle corruption and other crime cases involving senior officials.
Beqaj, 55, resigned his post as head of a government agency coordinating international assistance. He was the minister of health from 2013-2017 as part of the governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Beqaj is accused of corruption and abuse of power in a tender on a government project to sterilize medical items. He has denied the accusations but said he would respect the prosecutors’ order. He also resigned from the government post.
Fighting corruption has been post-communist Albania’s Achilles’ heel, strongly affecting the country’s democratic, economic and social development. New judicial institutions have launched several investigations into former senior government officials allegedly involved in corruption. One former minister served a jail term.
Former prime minister and president Sali Berisha, now a lawmaker, is also accused of corruption, but he has defied prosecutors’ orders to report and not to leave the country, saying they should first ask the parliament.
Other former ministers and mayors have also been arrested or are under investigation on corruption charges.
___
Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini
veryGood! (14)
Related
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- Revisiting Bears-Panthers pre-draft trade as teams tangle on 'Thursday Night Football'
- Police say 2 Jewish schools in Montreal were hit by gunshots; no injuries reported
- Citi illegally discriminated against Armenian-Americans, feds say
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Nicolas Cage becomes Schlubby Krueger in 'Dream Scenario'
- MLB announcer Jason Benetti leaves White Sox to join division rival's broadcast team
- Powell reinforces Fed’s cautious approach toward further interest rate hikes
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Sammy Hagar is selling his LaFerrari to the highest bidder: 'Most amazing car I’ve ever owned'
Ranking
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- Puerto Rico declares flu epidemic as cases spike. 42 dead and more than 900 hospitalized since July
- Profits slip at Japan’s Sony, hit by lengthy Hollywood strike
- Tennessee Titans' Ryan Tannehill admits 'it hits hard' to be backup behind Will Levis
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Melissa Rivers Is Engaged to Attorney Steve Mitchel
- National institute will build on New Hampshire’s recovery-friendly workplace program
- Revisiting Bears-Panthers pre-draft trade as teams tangle on 'Thursday Night Football'
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Danica Roem makes history as first openly transgender person elected to Virginia state Senate
From Hollywood to auto work, organized labor is flexing its muscles. Where do unions stand today?
Blake Shelton Playfully Trolls Wife Gwen Stefani for Returning to The Voice After His Exit
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
The Best Gifts For Runners On The Trail, Treadmill & Beyond
A Russian missile hits a Liberia-flagged ship in Odesa, Ukraine’s main Black Sea port
Underclassmen can compete in all-star games in 2024, per reports. What that means for NFL draft