Sterilization of medical equipment concession (health PPP)
Status: Trial ongoing per reporting; no verdict found. Beqaj released from detention per July 2026 reporting.
Conflicting records. The research disagrees; every version is shown and none has been chosen as correct.
- Status
- Trial ongoing per reporting; no verdict found. Beqaj released from detention per July 2026 reporting.From the research record · cites:
- The Three Healthcare Concessions of Minister Beqaj - Exit Explains (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · journalism · EN
- Sterilization affair, Beqaj on trial as a criminal group (opens in a new tab)A2 News · May 2025 · journalism · EN
- Sterilization constract; Court leaves in detention former deputy health minister and businessman (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · journalism · EN
- and 1 more in that record
- Referred to trial (as reported); verdict not found.From the research record · cites:
- SPAK issues 8 arrest warrants for the sterilization concession (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 17 Aug 2023 · journalism · EN
- Koncesioni për sterilizimin arrestohet ish-zv.ministri i Shëndetësisë Klodian Rjepaj (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · Aug 2023 · journalism · SQ
- Trial ongoing per reporting; no verdict found. Beqaj released from detention per July 2026 reporting.From the research record · cites:
- Start date
- 2015-05-04From the research record · cites:
- The Three Healthcare Concessions of Minister Beqaj - Exit Explains (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · journalism · EN
- Sterilization affair, Beqaj on trial as a criminal group (opens in a new tab)A2 News · May 2025 · journalism · EN
- Sterilization constract; Court leaves in detention former deputy health minister and businessman (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · journalism · EN
- and 1 more in that record
- 2023-08-17From the research record · cites:
- SPAK issues 8 arrest warrants for the sterilization concession (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 17 Aug 2023 · journalism · EN
- Koncesioni për sterilizimin arrestohet ish-zv.ministri i Shëndetësisë Klodian Rjepaj (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · Aug 2023 · journalism · SQ
- 2015-05-04From the research record · cites:
Summary
A 10-year PPP for sterilization of medical equipment for public hospitals. Exit.al reports the tender opened on 4 May 2015, was re-evaluated after a complaint, and was awarded to a consortium led by Investital LLC (Ilir Rrapaj) with Italian partners. Exit.al gives the value as 9.7 billion lek (about EUR 71 million) without VAT; A2 News and others cite nearly EUR 100 million. The two figures are not reconciled.
SPAK closed its investigation and sent former Health Minister Ilir Beqaj and eight others to trial, alleging a contract signed in breach of the law on false feasibility data, overestimated costs and an undeclared conflict of interest with Ilir Rrapaj. The trial is at the Special Court (GJKKO). Reporting in July 2026 says Beqaj was released from pre-trial detention after the legal deadline expired. A shteg.org opinion piece says per-set costs rose sharply under the concession; this is advocacy commentary, not a court finding.
Other accounts in the research (2 fields worded differently)
This record appears in more than one research record. The main text above comes from one; the other versions are kept here unedited.
- Title
- Sterilization of medical equipment concession (health PPP)From the research record
- Sterilisation concession (SaniService / Investital)From the research record
- Summary
- A 10-year PPP for sterilization of medical equipment for public hospitals. Exit.al reports the tender opened on 4 May 2015, was re-evaluated after a complaint, and was awarded to a consortium led by Investital LLC (Ilir Rrapaj) with Italian partners. Exit.al gives the value as 9.7 billion lek (about EUR 71 million) without VAT; A2 News and others cite nearly EUR 100 million. The two figures are not reconciled. SPAK closed its investigation and sent former Health Minister Ilir Beqaj and eight others to trial, alleging a contract signed in breach of the law on false feasibility data, overestimated costs and an undeclared conflict of interest with Ilir Rrapaj. The trial is at the Special Court (GJKKO). Reporting in July 2026 says Beqaj was released from pre-trial detention after the legal deadline expired. A shteg.org opinion piece says per-set costs rose sharply under the concession; this is advocacy commentary, not a court finding.From the research record
- A 10-year, €100 million concession for sterilisation of surgical equipment in public hospitals was awarded to the SaniService consortium, led by Ilir Rrapaj's Investital LLC with Italian partners (as reported). SPAK issued arrest warrants on 17 Aug 2023, including for Rrapaj and former deputy health minister Klodian Rjepaj. Shqiptarja reports the file was referred to trial at the GJKKO with former minister Ilir Beqaj and others. Charge descriptions differ by source. No verdict was found in the sources retrieved.From the research record
Key facts
- Tender opened 4 May 2015 (Exit.al).
- 10-year concession; reported value 9.7 billion lek (about EUR 71m) without VAT (Exit.al).
- SPAK alleges false data in the feasibility study and a conflict of interest with Ilir Rrapaj (A2 News, Top Channel).
- Concession value €100 million (Citizens.al and Shqiptarja reports, 2023).
- SPAK arrest warrants issued 17 Aug 2023 (Citizens.al).
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.
- Contract and consortium details as reported by Exit.al. No court outcome established.
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationInflated sterilization costs (SPAK claim; not adjudicated).
- AllegationRrapaj's role and charges (fraud, theft or organised group, depending on source).
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.
- AllegationTheft by abuse of office and participation in a structured criminal group (charges against Beqaj, per reporting).
- AllegationCommission presented false data and overestimated costs to favour the winner (SPAK, per A2 News).
- AllegationThe tender was manipulated to favour the SaniService consortium (SPAK allegations, as reported).
Open questions (5)
- Exact contract value (9.7bn lek vs nearly EUR 100m) and whether it includes VAT.
- Contract award date.
- Trial verdict and outcome for co-defendants.
- Whether the concession remains in force.
- Current custody status of Rrapaj and the outcome of the GJKKO trial.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Beqaj's lawyer challenged proceedings and hearings were postponed (A2 News). Beqaj's own public defence on the contract was not located in sources reviewed.
- No public response from Rrapaj was found in the sources retrieved.
Figures
Money trail →Sterilisation concession (10-year)
€100,000,000
concessionSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Value as reported by Citizens.al and Shqiptarja (2023); not checked against the contract.
Date: 17 Aug 2023 · Payer: Public hospitals / Ministry of Health (as reported) · Payee: SaniService consortium
- SPAK issues 8 arrest warrants for the sterilization concession (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 17 Aug 2023 · journalism · EN
Sterilization concession contract value (10 years)
€71,000,000
9,700,000,000 lek
Incomplete figureconcessionSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Exit.al: 9.7bn lek (about EUR 71m) without VAT. A2 News and others cite nearly EUR 100m. Unreconciled; incomplete (VAT basis and total over 10 years unclear).
Date: May 2015 · Payer: Ministry of Health (contracting authority) · Payee: Investital-led consortium (SaniService per A2 News)
- The Three Healthcare Concessions of Minister Beqaj - Exit Explains (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · journalism · EN
- For the Sterilization of 100 million euros, Ilir Beqaj is separated from his comrades, trial begins at the GJKKO (opens in a new tab)A2 News · May 2025 · journalism · EN
Lab-services PPP for public hospitals (approx. EUR 100m)
€100,000,000
Incomplete figureconcessionSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Approximate figure from Tirana Times headline. Article date uncertain (search summary suggests around 2017). Not linked to a documented case; incomplete.
Date: not found · Payer: Government (public hospitals) · Payee: Albanian-led consortium
- Albanian-led consortium gets EUR 100 mln PPP to offer lab services to public hospitals (opens in a new tab)Tirana Times · journalism · EN
Sterilisation services PPP concession (10 years), awarded to SaniService
€100,000,000
concessionSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Approximate ('about 100 million euro' per Shqiptarja, 17 Aug 2023); not a verified final value.
Date: 17 Aug 2023 · Payer: State (public PPP) · Payee: SaniService (per article)
- Koncesioni për sterilizimin: arrestohet ish-zv.ministri i Shëndetësisë Klodian Rjepaj (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · 17 Aug 2023 · journalism · SQ
Investital LLC registered capital (per SPAK file as reported)
€1,000
otherSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Registered capital reported by BalkanWeb from the SPAK file. Not a contract value.
Date: 17 Jul 2014 · Payer: not applicable · Payee: investital-llc
Timeline
Full timeline →Other
Rrapaj, Beqaj and Rrjepaj enter Albania at Rinas on an Alitalia flight from Rome (per SPAK file as reported)
BalkanWeb's account of the SPAK file says the three men arrived at Rinas airport on 15 June 2014. The article does not explicitly say the trip was to Italy, though its headline does.
Other
Investital LLC registered in Prishtina by Ilir Rrapaj with EUR 1,000 capital (per SPAK file as reported)
Per the SPAK file as reported by BalkanWeb, Investital LLC was created one month after the June 2014 trip. The article says it had one employee, its founder Ilir Rrapaj, and that it held 40% of the concession bid. SPAK alleges Rrapaj concealed his acquaintance with Rjepaj, whom he had known since university.
Government
Ministerial order sets up the sterilisation concession commission (per SPAK file as reported)
BalkanWeb's account of the SPAK file gives 18 August 2014 as the date of the order establishing the concession commission. The article does not state the commission's membership or Rjepaj's exact role in it.
Government
Health concession tenders opened (sterilization and hemodialysis)
Exit.al reports the sterilization tender opened on 4 May 2015; the hemodialysis tender opened in May 2015.
SPAK
SPAK arrests Ilir Rrapaj and Klodian Rjepaj in sterilisation concession case
SPAK issued eight arrest warrants; Rrapaj (Investital LLC, 40% of SaniService) and former deputy health minister Klodian Rjepaj were arrested. The concession is reported at €100 million.
SPAK
SPAK arrests former deputy health minister Klodian Rjepaj (sterilisation concession)
Charges: forgery and abuse of office, joint. Businessman Ilir Rrapaj charged with fraud. Concession about EUR 100 million.
SPAK
SPAK closes sterilisation concession investigation; sends Beqaj and eight others to trial
Cross-reference to case-sterilization-concession. Charges per the Dec 2024 article: abuse of office (Beqaj); fraud, forgery and abuse of office (Rjepaj); fraud (Rrapaj).
Court
GJKKO judge asks SPAK to requalify sterilisation charges; SPAK accepts
Judge Flojera Davidhi requested requalification to theft by abuse of office within a structured criminal group; SPAK accepted the same day per the article.
Court
Sterilization case: Beqaj tried separately from eight co-defendants
The Special Court trial began for Beqaj separately from his co-defendants; the presiding judge was reported as Bib Ndreca.
Court
Beqaj released from pre-trial detention (per op-ed)
An op-ed reports that after about 25 months in custody the Special Anti-Corruption Court ordered Beqaj's release because the legal deadline expired. Not confirmed by a court record in sources reviewed.
Connections
Defendant in sterilization concession case
Evidence: SPAK sent Beqaj to trial at the Special Court (A2 News, 2025).
Winning consortium, 10-year concession
Evidence: Exit.al reports a reported value of 9.7bn lek without VAT.
Sent to trial in sterilisation case
Evidence: SPAK closed investigation 30 Mar 2024 and referred Beqaj and eight others to GJKKO.
Former deputy minister on trial
Evidence: Charged with fraud, forgery and abuse of office in the sterilisation case.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 12 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 10 sources
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- May 2025
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- SHTEG
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- Citizens.al
- Date
- 17 Aug 2023
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- Aug 2023
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 30 Mar 2024
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 23 Dec 2024
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- May 2025
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Gazeta Tema
- Date
- Jul 2026
- Publisher
- Tirana Times
- Date
- not recorded