Ministry of Health tender bribe: Dricons supervision contract (Joana Duro case)
Status: Verdict reported Nov 2023; appeal decision reported (date not shown).
Summary
SPAK charged the Ministry of Health general secretary Joana Duro and specialist Laura Shteto, with the Dricons administrator Vladimir Topi and engineer Silvi Shehi, over a bribe linked to a health-centre supervision tender in Tirana and Durres. Prosecutors say the money was seized during a handover. A special-court verdict was reported on 13 Nov 2023 (Duro: 2 years 8 months after reduction; the others 8 months in total). Reporting says an appeal decision upheld the detention of Duro and Shteto. The bribe amounts differ between sources.
Key facts
- Duro in prison since 5 June 2023 (Top Channel, 17 Jul 2023).
- Tender Lot 1 (supervision of health-centre reconstruction): limit about 805,872 lekë; winning offer 672,457.60 lekë (Shqiptarja summary).
- Reported bribe 330,000 lekë; Top Channel also states '3 million old ALL' in another paragraph. Conflict unresolved.
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.
- Verdicts as announced by the Special Court (Himara.gr, 13 Nov 2023).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationCorruption and bribery by the officials named.
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.
- AllegationBribe to favour Dricons in a health tender (SPAK charge).
Open questions (2)
- Whether the appeal ruling is final.
- Reconciliation of the bribe amounts.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- No defence statement from Duro or Shteto was found in the sources reviewed.
Figures
Money trail →Bribe for Dricons tender (prosecution)
330,000 lek
paymentSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: 330,000 lekë per Top Channel and Shqiptarja. Top Channel also states '3 million old ALL' in another paragraph. Conflict unresolved.
Date: 5 Jun 2023 · Payer: Dricons (via Vladimir Topi) · Payee: Joana Duro (via Laura Shteto)
- SPAK Prosecutor's Office reports on corruption and bribes investigation in the Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 17 Jul 2023 · journalism · EN
- Korrupsioni per tenderin ne ministrine e shendetesise: Apeli i GJKKO le ne burg sekretaren Joana Duro dhe specialisten Laureta Shyto (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · journalism · SQ
Dricons winning offer, Lot 1 supervision tender
672,457.6 lek
Incomplete figuretenderSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Winning offer per Shqiptarja summary; limit 805,872 lekë. Top Channel gives a different tender value ('6 million old ALL'). Incomplete.
Date: not found · Payer: Ministry of Health (Albania) · Payee: Dricons
- Korrupsioni per tenderin ne ministrine e shendetesise: Apeli i GJKKO le ne burg sekretaren Joana Duro dhe specialisten Laureta Shyto (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · journalism · SQ
- SPAK Prosecutor's Office reports on corruption and bribes investigation in the Ministry of Health (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · 17 Jul 2023 · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Police
Ministry of Health general secretary Joana Duro in custody
Duro in prison from 5 June 2023 in the Dricons tender bribe case (Top Channel, 17 Jul 2023).
Court
Special Court announces verdict in Dricons tender bribe case
Duro sentenced to 4 years reduced by one third to 2 years 8 months, plus 5-year ban on public office; the three others 1 year each, 8 months total after shortened trial. Himara.gr does not state whether first instance or appeal.
Connections
Defendant in Dricons bribe case
Evidence: SPAK charged Duro with corruption of high officials; verdict reported Nov 2023.
Won health supervision tender in bribe case
Evidence: Dricons won the Lot 1 tender; SPAK says the bribe was to favour it.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- 17 Jul 2023
- Publisher
- Himara.gr
- Date
- 13 Nov 2023
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- not recorded