Vote buying (Dako)
More resultsIntroduction
Wiretapped conversations from an ongoing investigation by the Serious Crimes Prosecution Office were leaked.
The wiretaps revealed that Vangjush Dako, a three-term mayor of Durrës, member of the Socialist Party Steering Committee at the time, and the party official responsible for the election campaign in Durrës, was part of a scheme to secure votes for the Socialist Party during the June 2017 parliamentary elections in collaboration with a local crime family: the Avdylaj clan.
- Country
- Albania
- Sector
- Elections
- Offence
- Abuse of power
- Phase
- Investigation
Description of the case
Wiretapped conversations from an ongoing investigation by the Serious Crimes Prosecution Office were leaked.
The wiretaps revealed that Vangjush Dako, a three-term mayor of Durrës, member of the Socialist Party Steering Committee at the time, and the party official responsible for the election campaign in Durrës, was part of a scheme to secure votes for the Socialist Party during the June 2017 parliamentary elections in collaboration with a local crime family: the Avdylaj clan.
Members of the Avdylaj clan engaged in vote-buying and intimidation of state and municipal employees in the district of Durrës. In exchange for helping the Socialist Party to secure votes, the clan was offered preferential access to several local institutions (most notably the local land tenure office).
The clan did benefit from access to local government institutions. Astrit Avdylaj, the most prominent member of the clan, asked Elton Arbana, the chairman of the Socialist Party in the district of Shijak (Durrës region) to intervene by annulling a fine for unauthorised construction that had been imposed by the construction inspectorate of the municipality of Durrës. The wiretaps also indicate that the clan gained access to the local land tenure office.
Applicable corruption offence
Abuse of power and active corruption in elections
Other laws breached
Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania
Suspect’s institutional affiliation
Mayor of Durrës
Date of offending
May-June 2017
Sector affected
Elections
Related developments
The US Department of State declared Dako and his family members ineligible for entry into the United States because of credible information of involvement in significant corruption. Dako failed to be selected as the Socialist Party nominee for a fourth term as mayor of Durrës.
Court
N/A
Related domestic or foreign cases
The relations between the mayor and the Avdylaj clan were discovered in an ongoing criminal investigation into drug trafficking. The investigation led to a police operation codenamed “Vol-vo 4”. Some 27 suspects from the Avdylaj clan were arrested in October 2018. The case “339” has been transferred to the Special Prosecution Office, which has submitted the charges to the Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime. The trail is ongoing for 25 individuals charged with narcotics trafficking, being a structured criminal group, and three other criminal offences.
Current phase of the case in criminal procedure
Investigation
Procedural history
Dako was not charged, but the General Prosecutor’s Office has maintained that his activities are under investigation. He was questioned once by the prosecution about his connections with the Avdylaj clan.
Obstacles
The main obstacle is that the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) did not file any charges on vote-buying. Dako is a prominent member of the Socialist Party and a close associate of Prime Minister Rama. The investigation into Dako’s activities would directly influence the political standing of the prime minister.
Resolution of the case
N/A
Applicable minimum and maximum penalty
From one to seven years in prison, under Articles 248 and 328 of the Albanian Criminal Code
Charges pressed by the prosecutor in the actual case
N/A
Sanctions imposed
N/A
Sanctions enforced
N/A
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