Sarandë / Ksamil: beach-use permits, two former local officials sent to trial by SPAK (date unclear)
Status: Sent to trial (reported, undated). Verdict not found.
Summary
A Telegrafi headline (secondary report, not confirmed in the original source) reports that SPAK sent two former local officials to trial over permits for use of a beach in Ksamil. A secondary report names an urban-planning employee of Sarandë municipality and an IKMT employee, and alleges the first demanded EUR 7,500 in March 2020 to avoid demolition of an object built on the beach. Separately, the Ombudsman issued a recommendation on 27 October 2025 to the Sarandë mayor and council about an unpermitted construction complaint (PDF seen in secondary reports, not confirmed in the original source). Earlier, IKMT complained in 2018 that mayor Floriana Koka had abused her duty by extending a 2017 seven-storey permit (see case-sarande-klsh-koka-complaint).
Key facts
- Telegrafi headline: SPAK sends two former local officials to trial over Ksamil beach-use permits (not confirmed in the original source).
- Allegation in secondary report: EUR 7,500 demanded in March 2020 to avoid demolition (not confirmed in an opened source).
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.
- AllegationPermit-related corruption on the Ksamil beach (as summarised).
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.
- AllegationUrban-planning official allegedly demanded EUR 7,500 to avoid demolition of a beach structure (SPAK file as summarised).
Open questions (2)
- Trial date, court and verdict.
- Whether the Ombudsman recommendation of 27 Oct 2025 concerns the same site; not checked.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Not retrieved.
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
Ksamil beach permits: SPAK arrest, amounts and positions confirmed by ABC News (Oct 2023); trial referral still unverified
ABC News (27 Oct 2023) reports SPAK ordered the arrest of a Sarandë urban-planning official for illegal influence over the National Coastal Agency on a 2021 beach permit (EUR 12,000 demanded, EUR 6,000 received and returned). It also reports an IKMT inspector who demanded EUR 7,500 in March 2020 to avoid demolition of a structure on Ksamil beach and received EUR 3,000; he was ordered held on a passive-corruption charge. The Telegrafi report that SPAK sent two former officials to trial could not be opened (HTTP 402); only its headline was seen in secondary reports. Trial date and verdict unknown.
Hypotheses
Possible explanations that connect this record with other findings. They are not findings; each lists the evidence for and against.
- Source label: Unverified
Coastal and building-permit prosecutions fall mainly on former or opposition-era local officials while national coastal permits continue
Several permit-related cases (Durrës Dako 2023, Vlorë Gjika 2017, Sarandë/Ksamil beach officials, Himarë acting mayor Goro, Himarë Jalë seizures 2026) target local officials or property holders, while the national territorial council approved 13 coastal hotels and resorts, seven in Himarë, and PM Rama announced demolitions of unpermitted coastal buildings. A pattern could mean enforcement targets lower-level or former officials while the larger permit approvals are not examined in the same way. This is a hypothesis for checking, not a finding.
Evidence for
- Dako (Durrës) arrested June 2023 for permit extension and promenade tender; Gjika (Vlorë) charged 2013-2017 over permits (Exit.al 2017).
- Shqiptarja: national council approved 13 coastal permits (7 in Himarë); demolition of unpermitted coastal buildings announced (undated).
- Himarë: Jalë seizure orders June 2026 concern villas and apartments, not the resort permits (secondary report).
Evidence against
- Demolitions and seizures do target large projects in some cases, and the Himarë Jalë seizures are a current enforcement step.
- Courts have sometimes acquitted or dismissed charges (Kapri, Ksamil/Sarandë outcome 'acquittal' in an existing record).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Avokati i Popullit
- Date
- 27 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- ABC News Albania
- Date
- 27 Oct 2023