SASPAC EU-funds tenders and sterilisation concession (Ilir Beqaj)
Status: Charged; under house arrest since 31 July 2026; trial pending
Summary
SPAK charged former Health Minister Ilir Beqaj in two files. In the sterilisation-concession file, prosecutors allege that the tender was manipulated to favour businessman Ilir Rrapaj; search summaries report a concession value of about EUR 100 million over ten years. In the SASPAC file, SPAK alleges that Beqaj, with Ermal Kurtulaj, abused at least eight tender procedures in 2022-2023 by agreeing the winner in advance and creating fictitious documentation.
Beqaj was held in pretrial detention from July 2024. GJKKO rejected his requests for release or house arrest several times and released him to house arrest on 31 July 2026 after the legal maximum for pretrial detention expired. He says he was unjustly detained. No verdict was found.
Key facts
- Sterilisation-concession arrests reported in August 2023 (search summaries, A2 CNN).
- SASPAC file: at least eight tender procedures in 2022-2023 (A2 CNN and Shqiptarja summaries).
- Released to house arrest 31 July 2026 when the maximum pretrial-detention period expired (Albanian Daily News).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- GJKKO ordered Beqaj's pretrial detention and later reduced it to house arrest (Albanian Daily News).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThe winning bidders were agreed before the tenders and fictitious procedures were then staged (SPAK, as reported).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationManipulation of the sterilisation-concession tender to favour Ilir Rrapaj (SPAK, A2 CNN summary).
- AllegationAbuse of at least eight SASPAC tenders with Ermal Kurtulaj (SPAK, A2 CNN summary).
Open questions (3)
- The number of counts: sources give 4, 5 and 8 different figures for the SASPAC file.
- Verdicts in the sterilisation trial of co-defendants; reports of convictions of Klodian Rjepaj and Ilir Rrapaj appeared in search summaries but were not verified here.
- Trial date (an opinion piece gives 15 September; unverified).
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Beqaj denies the accusations (A2 CNN summary) and said after release that he was unjustly held in pretrial detention (Telegrafi).
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
Former health minister Ilir Beqaj arrested over alleged misuse of EU funds (SASPAC)
Detention order dated 3 Jul 2024, per Balkanweb (31 Jul 2026).
Court
Ilir Beqaj moved from prison to house arrest
GJKKO reduced his security measure after the legal maximum for pretrial detention expired; he had been held since July 2024 (Albanian Daily News, Gazeta Tema).
Connections
Charged in SASPAC and sterilisation files
Evidence: SPAK charges reported in A2 CNN and Shqiptarja; released to house arrest 31 July 2026 (Albanian Daily News).
Defendant in SASPAC EU-funds file
Evidence: GJKKO decision no. 550 (31 Jul 2026) moved him to house arrest (Balkanweb).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 5 sources.
Source label: VerifiedVerified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- 31 Jul 2026
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 4 sources
- Publisher
- OCCRP
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- A2 CNN
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- 31 Jul 2026
- Publisher
- A2 CNN
- Date
- not recorded