Press Release

Albanian Prosecution Office, in compliance with institutional priorities, in the first 6 months of 2015 has significantly increased its investigative activities in combating corruption, abuse of office and illegal trafficking, including fighting of criminal structures.
Based on statistical analysis, compared with the first six months of 2014, during the period January-June 2015, inter alia, the following data were recorded:

“Abuse of office” (Article 248 of Criminal Code)

For the criminal offense provided by Article 248 of the Criminal Code "Abuse of office", proceedings sent for trial increased by 75% compared with the first 6 months of 2014. Specifically are recorded 304 proceedings with 76 defendants and persons under investigation and are sent to trial 63 proceedings and 132 defendants.
“Theft through abuse of office” (Article 135 of C.C.)
Criminal proceedings registered to Article 135 of the Criminal Code "Theft through abuse of office", have increased by 69% in six months in 2015, which registered 147 proceedings against 77 defendants and persons under investigation. Proceedings sent for trial have increased by 83% compared with the first six months of 2014 and are sent for trial 44 proceedings, raising charges for 53 defendants.
“Active corruption of persons exercising public functions” (Article 244 of C.C.) 
Proceedings registered for this offense during the 6 month period in 2015, resulting in an increase of five times whereas proceedings sent for trial have increased 8 times.
“The passive corruption of the judges, prosecutors and other officials of the justice bodies/system” (Article 319/ç of C.C.) 
Regarding the criminal offense provided by Article 319/ç of the Criminal Code, "The passive corruption of the judges, prosecutors and other officials of the justice bodies/system" were registered 2.5 times more proceedings, compared with six months of 2014.
“The exercising of unlawful influence on public officials” (Article 245/1 of C.C.)
Criminal proceedings registered for the offense of " exercising of unlawful influence ", increased by 50% over 6 months of 2015 compared to the same period a year ago, and proceedings sent to court increased by 80%.
“Laundering of proceeds of criminal offence or criminal activity” (Article 287 of C.C.)
Proceedings registered for this offense during the 6 month period in 2015, result with an increase of 81%.
Specifically, during the six months of 2015, the Prosecution Office has registered 123 criminal proceedings against 54 defendants and persons under investigation for the offense of " Laundering of proceeds of criminal offence or criminal activity " provided by Article 287 of the Criminal Code.
“The structured criminal group” (Article 333/a of C.C.)
From the statistical data of the first six months of 2015 results that the Prosecution Office for Serious Crimes recorded 6 criminal proceedings provided by Article 333/a of the Criminal Code "The structured criminal group", with 24 defendants and persons under investigation. Meanwhile, two criminal proceedings with 19 defendants were sent for trial on charges of establishment, organization or leading of structured criminal group for committing offenses of helping on illegal border crossing and drug trafficking etc.
“Cultivating narcotic plants” (Article 284 of C.C.)
 From the statistical data of the first half of 2015 results that the number of criminal proceedings registered for the Article 284 of the Criminal Code "Cultivation of narcotic plants" increased by 100%, while the number of proceedings sent for trial for this offense increased by 157%.
“Trafficking of narcotics” (Article 283/a of C.C.)
Prosecution Office has registered 55 criminal proceedings with 66 defendants and persons under investigation for the offense provided by Article 283/a "Trafficking of Narcotics", while 31 criminal proceedings with 71 defendants were sent for trial.
“Acts with terrorist purposes” (Article 230 of C.C.)
From the statistical data of the first six months of 2015 results that Prosecution Office for Serious Crimes has registered three criminal proceedings provided by Article 230 of the Criminal Code "Acts with terrorist purposes", and 2 criminal proceedings for the offense provided by Article 232/b "Threat for committing crimes with terrorist purposes".
“Trafficking of Minors” (Article 128/b of C.C.)
Regarding the "trafficking of minors", there are registered 11 criminal proceedings against 8 defendants and persons under investigation, opposed to 3 proceedings registered in the first six months in 2014.
Seizure and confiscation of assets (pursuant to “anti-mafia” law)
In implementation of the "Anti-mafia" law, results that in the first six months of 2015 is required by the Prosecution Office and decided by the First Instance Court for Serious Crimes, seizure of assets of 7 cases. It requested to the Court the seizure of assets in 6 cases. For this period, the First Instance Court has given 4 decisions relating to the seizure, of which 3 were accepted and one case is still under judicial review.