Fier incinerator: retrial status after the High Court (2023-2025)
Status: Pending retrial at the GJKKO Appeal Court before a different panel (High Court decision of 21 Oct 2025). The Dec 2024 retrial order was annulled. No 2026 verdict found.
Summary
GJKKO first-instance judgment in the Fier file (reported as September 2023). The Special Court of Appeal decision nr. 55 (87-2024-383) of 19 Dec 2024 sent the case back for retrial. On 21 October 2025 the High Court overturned that decision and ordered retrial before the GJKKO Appeal Court with a different panel. No later verdict was found in sources read; the case appears pending.
Nominal terms reported for the first-instance judgment conflict. Shqiptarja (21 Oct 2025) lists Lefter Koka 10 years, Alqi Bllako 4 years, Loran Dusha 7 years, Erjon Murataj 3 years, Arbër Denizi 7 years, and Klodian Zoto with counts of 2 years (passive corruption), 7 years (fraud) and 8 years (money laundering) while stating a total of 11 years; the stated total does not equal the sum of the counts. Acquittals for Arben Dervishaj, Arjola Kodra and Juri Imeraj; probation for several others. Wikipedia gives Koka 6 years 8 months, Bllako 2 years 8 months and Zoto 12 years. Top Channel (2023) gives Zoto and Mërtiri 6.8 years and Gugallja 4.8 years in a combined verdict.
Key facts
- Special Court of Appeal decision nr. 55 (87-2024-383) of 19.12.2024 ordered retrial; overturned by the High Court.
- High Court decision of 21 Oct 2025 ordered the case back to GJKKO Appeal, before a different panel (Shqiptarja, 21 Oct 2025).
- SPAK's position in the appeal, as reported by Shqiptarja: convictions sought for Arben Dervishaj, Juri Imeraj and Arjola Kodra (abuse of office).
- Fier BOT concession value about 35 million euro including VAT (Wikipedia; see financials).
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.
- The 19.12.2024 appeal decision and the 21.10.2025 High Court decision are reported in news coverage (Shqiptarja). The High Court decision is the latest ruling found in the Fier retrial track.
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationCorruption, abuse of office and money laundering in the Fier concession (SPAK allegations, as reported).
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationSPAK alleges about 4 million euro was paid for works never carried out in the Fier file (search summary, not opened).
Open questions (4)
- Whether the retrial is at first instance (Telegrafi headline on the Dec 2024 ruling) or at appeal (Shqiptarja, 21 Oct 2025).
- Koka's Fier sentence: 10y nominal (Shqiptarja, 21 Oct 2025) vs 6y8m effective (Wikipedia) vs 9.8y (search summary).
- Zoto's Fier sentence: 11 years stated total (Shqiptarja, 21 Oct 2025, with counts that do not sum to it) vs 12 years (Wikipedia) vs 8 years (search summary) vs 6.8 years (Top Channel, combined verdict).
- Whether the seizures and the SPAK confiscation request remain in force after the retrial order.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Alqi Bllako: stated he is not a high-ranking official and asked for clarification of the charges (Top Channel headline, search only).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 4 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 4 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 21 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- Dec 2024
- Publisher
- A2 CNN
- Date
- 19 Dec 2024
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- not recorded