Kolonjë mayor Erion Isai: tenders (Korçë–Ersekë road, water supply, Gjonç reservoir, check dams), SPAK charges
Status: Charged and defendant (reported June 2026). No verdict.
Summary
Erion Isai, mayor of Kolonjë, is the subject of two strands of SPAK work. An investigation published by Shteg in September 2025, based on leaked documents and SPAK's preliminary file, alleges that he helped predetermine the winner of a road-works tender (Korçë–Ersekë, reported at about EUR 65 million after contract modification) and a water-supply tender for 13 villages (about EUR 4 million), with a named firm as beneficiary. Shteg says the documents do not show Isai's role in the road tender, only in the water tender. In June 2026 Balkanweb reported that Isai appeared before SPAK as a defendant, charged with violating the equal-treatment principle in public tenders over 2023 works (Gjonç reservoir reconstruction and mountain check dams), where a complaint says most tenders were marked 'red flag'. A separate SPAK notice reportedly sent 16 defendants to trial over procurement on the Korçë–Ersekë road, Lot 2, involving the road authority and Bashkia Kolonjë (not confirmed in the original source).
Key facts
- Balkanweb (12 June 2026): Isai appeared before SPAK as a defendant; charge is violating equal-treatment principles for participants in public tenders or auctions.
- Tenders cited by Balkanweb: 2023 reconstruction of the Gjonç reservoir dam and mountain check dams in Kolonjë villages. The complaint says most were marked 'red flag'.
- Shteg (26 Sep 2025): Korçë–Ersekë road, about EUR 65 million after contract modification; water supply for 13 villages, about EUR 4 million.
- Shteg cites a message from Isai reading 'I will take you for supervision' and says he allegedly drafted tender documents to fit the company's requirements.
- Shteg says the documents do not clarify the mayor's role in the road tender, only in the water tender.
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.
- Isai has been formally charged and appeared before SPAK as a defendant (reported by Balkanweb, 12 June 2026).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat Isai rigged tender outcomes and supervision appointments in favour of a named engineering company (Shteg allegation; SPAK charge as reported).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationSPAK and the complaint allege that Isai predetermined tender winners by drafting documents to fit a company's requirements and by manipulating estimates and appointing supervisors in its interest (Shteg, citing leaked documents and SPAK's preliminary investigation).
- AllegationA complaint alleges the Gjonç reservoir and check-dam tenders were marked 'red flag' and works were not completed to quality standards or approved designs (Balkanweb, 12 Jun 2026).
Open questions (3)
- The exact charge sheet and number of counts in the SPAK file are not in the sources opened.
- Whether the Korçë–Ersekë road tender case (16 defendants sent to trial, not confirmed in the original source) is the same file as the water-supply and dam tenders.
- Current status of the 16-defendant trial referral; not reviewed.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Shteg (26 Sep 2025): Isai has not commented on the allegations.
- Balkanweb (12 Jun 2026): no response reported.
Figures
Money trail →Korçë–Ersekë road works, after contract modification (Kolonjë tender)
€65,000,000
Stated definition: About EUR 65 million per Shteg; investigative figure from leaked documents, not verified against the contract.
Date: 2025 · Payer: Bashkia Kolonjë / ARRSH · Payee: A&E Engineering sh.p.k. (alleged winner and supervisor)
- Investigations reveal Erion Isai's role in public tenders (opens in a new tab)Shteg Investigativ · 26 Sep 2025 · journalism · EN
Water supply for 13 villages, Kolonjë
€4,000,000
Stated definition: About EUR 4 million per Shteg.
Date: 2025 · Payer: Bashkia Kolonjë · Payee: Alleged winner (see A&E Engineering)
- Investigations reveal Erion Isai's role in public tenders (opens in a new tab)Shteg Investigativ · 26 Sep 2025 · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Other
Shteg investigation alleges Kolonjë mayor Erion Isai predetermined tender winners
Based on leaked documents and SPAK preliminary file; no response from Isai.
SPAK
Kolonjë mayor Erion Isai appears before SPAK as defendant
Charged with violating equal-treatment principles in tenders (2023 dam and check-dam works).
Hypotheses
Possible explanations that connect this record with other findings. They are not findings; each lists the evidence for and against.
- Source label: Unverified
A repeated 'equal treatment in tenders' charge is used across several municipalities and KESH, pointing to a common procurement pattern
The same charge wording (violating equal treatment of participants in public tenders) recurs in the Beci KESH case (2026), the Isai Kolonjë case (2026), the Kapri Pogradec case (2021), and the Balluku/Tushe-type files. Shteg's 'red flag' tenders (Kolonjë) and the Vlorë KLSH directors finding suggest a procurement-control weakness at municipal level rather than one-off misconduct. If so, the pattern may be documented in KLSH and procurement-register data across Bashkia Kolonjë, Vlorë and Shkodër.
Evidence for
- Balkanweb (17 Mar 2026) and Shqiptarja (9 Jan 2026): Beci charged under the same article as the 2026 Kolonjë charge (Balkanweb, 12 Jun 2026).
- Shteg (26 Sep 2025): Kolonjë tenders allegedly predetermined; a complaint says most Gjonç and check-dam tenders were marked 'red flag' (Balkanweb, 12 Jun 2026).
- KLSH review of Vlorë requested dismissal of five directors (undated, secondary report).
Evidence against
- The Kapri case (acquitted, upheld 2024) shows the same charge did not result in conviction; courts have not yet found any of the 2026 tender cases proven.
- The municipalities, tenders and officials are different; no documented common company, consultant or political sponsor across them was found in the sources opened.
- The charge is standard for tender cases in Albania and may reflect how prosecutors qualify many procurement offences rather than a coordinated scheme.
- Source label: Unverified
Cases against municipal mayors cut across parties; opposition complaints against PS mayors are common but rarely end in convictions
Complaints by PD candidates and branches (Dibër 2020 and 2025) target PS-run and other municipalities, while SPAK cases also involve PD (Kapri per 2024 notes) and LSI (Zamira Rami) figures. Protection by the majority, as an explanation for the outcome of cases, would predict fewer PS-mayor prosecutions proceeding. The sources show the opposite for Beci, Dako and Isai; but the mix of complaints and acquittals makes the pattern hard to read. The hypothesis is that prosecutions go forward for PS mayors, yet most opposition complaints are not converted into proceedings, so complaints themselves are a weak signal.
Evidence for
- Beci (PS as reported), Dako (PS), Gjika (PS per Shqiptarja) and Isai (party not stated) faced SPAK proceedings reaching trial.
- Dibër complaints (2020, 2025) by PD had no reported SPAK outcome.
Evidence against
- Kapri (PD per earlier notes) was charged and acquitted, showing SPAK acts against non-PS mayors too.
- Party of Isai and Hajdari is not established in the opened sources, so the balance cannot be fully measured.
- Opposition complaints are allegations and may be filed for political reasons; the lack of outcome does not show protection.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 2 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- 12 Jun 2026
- Publisher
- Shteg Investigativ
- Date
- 26 Sep 2025