Albania: Former Minister and Deputy Indicted For Corruption

Published: 12 March 2012

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Albania’s former economy minister Dritan Prifti and his deputy Leonard Beqiri have been indicted for corruption, the court announced Thursday.

Prosecutors found a video of Prifti on his computer showing him and Beqiri dividing up €69,000 between them.

The video was discovered during an investigation into former deputy PM Ilir Meta, who was featured in a video where he discussed secret illegal deals..  In a controversial ruling which raised alarms among the opposition and in Brussels, Albania’s Supreme Court acquitted him in January, citing insufficient evidence.

An American technology expert hired by the court to determine the authenticity of the Meta video uncovered footage of Prfti and Beqiri.

All three men deny the allegations against them.