The wife of the wanted ex-Socialist Party Mayor of Vore, Agim Kajmaku has been awarded a government tender worth about €50 thousand.
Kajmaku’s wife, Merita Kajmaku was passed ownership of the company Kajmaku shpk from her husband on 17 July 2019 just over two weeks after the 30 June elections.
That company then went on to bid on a Ministry of Interior tender to maintain flower beds at the University Medical Centre of Tirana “Mother Theresa”, and then be awarded it at a time her husband was declared “on the run” and was wanted by the authorities.
The tender was awarded on 30 December 2019 while Kajmaku was declared wanted on 11 November. Charges were then filed against him just days later on 17 January 2020.
Kajmaku was removed from office for falsifying information on the decriminalisation form by lying about his criminal record in Greece. He also faces charges of falsification of stamps, falsification of documents and performing duties of his office, after termination.
The Democratic Party were the first to denounce Kajmaku after they stated he had been arrested in Greece under the name Jorgo Toto for money laundering. The charges were confirmed by the Prosecutor’s office who verified that his fingerprints and ‘Jorgo Toto’s’ were in fact the same.
PD Secretary-General Gazment Bardhi reacted to the news by accusing Kajmaku of plundering the state budget and calling for the tender to be cancelled.
“Agim Kajmaku is the most flagrant case of budget robbery under the protection of Edi Rama.”
He went on to explain how Rama had defended Kajmaku and accused the authorities of tipping him off about his impending arrest, giving him a chance to flee.
Bardhi added: “giving millions of lek to a man on the run, who he appointed Mayor of Vora and did not dare to dismiss, Edi Rama proves repeatedly that the only thing he can do is smuggle the money of Albanian’s with criminals, oligarchs, and those who are corrupt. This tender must be cancelled. Albanian money cannot be taken away by a fugitive who should be in prison.”
Kajmaku is one of five Socialist Party mayors that have either been accused or admitted to have criminal pasts, something that should by law preclude them from assuming office.
The authorities claim Kajmaku’s whereabouts are not known yet it seems like it is business as usual for his wife and the family business.
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