Alleged photo of cash in the Dhërmi villa (JOQ report, not independently confirmed)
Status: Allegation from JOQ; not confirmed by independent outlets reviewed.
Summary
JOQ Albania (1 Nov 2026, two articles) reports that SPAK's investigative file on the Dhërmi villa includes a photo, found on the phone of a cleaner's husband and sent on 17 July 2021, of a red box containing stacks of EUR 50 notes. JOQ says the file also contains phone data from 2018 to 2025 and communications referring to the property as 'the boss's villa', and that prosecutors suspect Balluku used the property from 2019 to early 2026. JOQ attributes these details to the SPAK file and does not quote the file directly.
No independent outlet reviewed here confirmed the cash photo, the EUR 50 notes, the 17 July 2021 date, or the total cash amount. Independent Balkanweb coverage confirms the villa, the nominee owner and a driver's testimony that he took a cleaner to the villa, but does not report the cash photo. JOQ states no total, and gives no comment from Balluku or the other people named.
Key facts
- JOQ: photo of a red box with EUR 50 notes, sent 17 July 2021 from a phone belonging to a cleaner's husband (name omitted here).
- JOQ: phone and communication data reviewed for 2018 to 2025; suspected use of the villa from 2019 to early 2026.
- JOQ: no total cash amount is stated.
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 (0)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
Nothing recorded in this list.
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat cash was stored in the Dhërmi villa and that Balluku used the villa (JOQ, citing the SPAK file).
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.
- AllegationJOQ Albania (1 Nov 2026): the SPAK file includes a photo of EUR 50 notes in a villa linked to Balluku.
Open questions (3)
- Whether the cash photo is in the SPAK file and whether it has been put to the court.
- The total amount, if any, and the date of the photo.
- Whether the phone and cleaner evidence is in the seized file or in press reporting only.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- No response from Balluku, the registered owner or any lawyer is included in the JOQ articles.
- Balluku's general denial is recorded in leaders/(claim-balluku-2026-09-11-no-300-apartments).
Timeline
Full timeline →Media
JOQ reports photo of cash in the Dhërmi villa within the SPAK file (publication date)
JOQ's report of 1 Nov 2026 (publication date, not the date of the event). Single outlet; no confirmation found.
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
- JOQ Albania
- Date
- 1 Nov 2026
- Publisher
- JOQ Albania
- Date
- 1 Nov 2026
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- 2026