Edmond Bego allegations against Taulant Balla (2018)
Status: Allegations only. No prosecutorial or court finding on Balla found.
Summary
In August 2018 the Democratic Party alleged that convicted trafficker Edmond Bego won public tenders because of his ties to Balla. Luçjano Boçi (25 Aug 2018) cited about 14 million euro in tenders and called Bego a family friend of Balla. Edmond Spaho (22 Aug 2018, Shqiptarja, fetched) alleged that a company named as Inerte Express won a 100 million lek OST tender in Balla's constituency of Librazhd. Later, Ervin Salianji alleged that Minister Damian Gjiknuri signed a mining permit without tender for a Bego company, which he linked to Balla. Balla acknowledged knowing Bego and travelling with him, and denied preferential treatment in tenders. The sources reviewed record no Balla ownership of any company linked to Bego, no OST contract record and no prosecutorial or court finding on Balla. The business-link claims come from opposition statements only. Bego's Italian conviction is reported as a 21-year sentence by some outlets, while another account describes reductions and an amnesty; the court record was not checked.
Key facts
- 22 Aug 2018: PD's Edmond Spaho alleged a 100 million lek OST tender in Librazhd went to a Bego-linked company named Inerte Express (Shqiptarja, fetched).
- Balla's reply in Elbasan, 22 Aug 2018 (per Shqiptarja): 'we were elected to do work' (translated from 'ne jemi të zgjedhur për të bërë punë'), and that others were elected only to talk.
- 19 Oct 2018: Balla on Exit.al said he knew Bego, had travelled with him once (to Denmark, a football match), denied preferential tenders and said he was unaware of the Italian conviction.
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.
- Balla publicly acknowledged knowing Bego and travelling with him at least once (Exit.al, 19 Oct 2018).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationPreferential treatment of Bego in public tenders because of Balla's influence (PD).
- AllegationAny business interest of Balla in a Bego company: alleged by opposition figures; no specific Balla stake is documented in any source reviewed.
Allegations and who made them (3)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationEdmond Spaho (PD): Bego's company won OST tenders because of his ties to Balla (22 Aug 2018).
- AllegationLuçjano Boçi (PD): Bego received about 14 million euro in tenders and is a family friend of Balla (25 Aug 2018).
- AllegationErvin Salianji (PD): Balla travelled with Bego 25 or 57 times (counts vary by outlet).
Open questions (4)
- Who owned Inerte Express and was it registered in QKB in 2018?
- Is there an OST award record of 100 million lek in Librazhd?
- Did any prosecutor open an inquiry (PD says prosecutors stayed silent)?
- Which Italian judgment applies to Bego's sentence and what was its final form?
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Balla (Shqiptarja, 22 Aug 2018): 'we were elected to do work' (translated from 'ne jemi të zgjedhur për të bërë punë'), and criticised PD critics as elected only to talk.
- Balla (Exit.al, 19 Oct 2018): 'I have said I know him. Today, for the first time, I will recount why I know him.' Denied preferential treatment in tenders.
Figures
Money trail →Damages sought by Balla from Ervin Salianji
1,000,000 lek
otherSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: Amount Balla sued for (a claim, not an award). Outcome not found.
Date: unknown · Payer: Ervin Salianji (defendant, if sued) · Payee: Balla said the money would go to the education fund
- Bego: Taulant Balla padit Ervin Salianjin (Shqiptarja) (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · unknown · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →Court
Balla sues Ervin Salianji for 1 million lek over claims of trips with Bego
Following Salianji's claims that Balla travelled 25 or 57 times with Bego (18 by charter, per TIMS data attributed to Salianji), Balla filed a civil suit seeking 1 million lek in moral damages, which he said would go to the education fund. Filing date and outcome not found; the year is inferred from the 2018 context of the other Bego allegations.
Media
PD's Edmond Spaho alleges Bego-linked company Inerte Express won a 100 million lek OST tender in Balla's constituency
Spaho said Inerte Express, linked to Bego, had no substation experience but won OST tenders, including a 100 million lek tender in Librazhd, because of Bego's ties to Balla. Balla replied in Elbasan that 'we were elected to do work' and that some critics were elected only to talk. No OST document, registry record or prosecutorial statement was found in the sources.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 22 Aug 2018
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 19 Oct 2018
- Bego: Taulant Balla padit Ervin Salianjin, 1 mln lekë dëmshpërblim (Shqiptarja) (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- unknown