First denunciation after the foundation of Albania's Special Prosecution: an investigation into the $ 100 million sterilization concession

 

 Four days after the establishment of the Special Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime and Corruption - commonly known in Albania as 'SPAK' - came the first denunciation. The "Knitting Initiative" wants to investigate the concession of the sterilization of the surgical equipment, starting from the former Minister of Health Ilir Beqja to the lowest-ranking official who dealt with this contract, according to corrupt officials.

"We ask the SPAK to launch an investigation, from Beqa and all former officials involved in the affair, that in our view there are credible suspicions that they have damaged the state budget," said Endri Shabani, a civil society representative.

Although this concession was once investigated by the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, civil society activists are confident that SPAK has the capacity to not disappoint.

The Doctor Artan Koni, one of the drafters of the report, says this concession has not improved the service to the citizens.

"The sterilization process is more or less the same, there is no substantial improvement," says Koni.

Members of the "Knitting Initiative" warned that they are preparing more reports of officials who have abused their office for the past 30 years. In 2015, the Ministry of Health, with a 10-year contract worth of $ 100 million, provided the service to a private company. While the signing of this contract has been associated by strong debates after the opposition described it as corrupt.