SPAK’s Elbasan investigation reveals shocking plot by arrested former judge to kill journalist, lawyer

Among the most shocking details of the investigation by the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) against former Elbasan judge Pajtime Fetahu, is an assassination plot against renowned investigative journalist Saimir Kodra. The revelations, which include intercepted communications between Fetahu and members of the notorious criminal gang hit by SPAK, also suggest that the gang fed her false information about their attempts to carry out the assassination.

Why is this important: The revelation underscores the profound moral and professional degradation of a judge operating before the justice reform. It highlights how deeply entrenched corruption in the judiciary enabled collusion with organized crime, totally undermining public trust in the justice system and leading to the radical 2016 reform.

Context: Kodra, one of Albania’s best known media figures, and co-host of the investigative program Stop, had repeatedly exposed Fetahu’s alleged corruption. Over the years, Stop aired multiple investigations detailing her misconduct:

• Conflicting rulings: In January 2019, Stop reported that Fetahu had issued two contradictory rulings on the same case, raising suspicions of forgery.
• Delayed decisions: In December 2020, the program documented how Fetahu’s deliberate delays in issuing rulings left citizens unable to access their legal rights, including a case where a pensioner was denied benefits.
• Property disputes: In October 2022, Stop alleged that Fetahu had favored certain parties in land disputes, with her rulings often contradicting legal precedents and procedural norms.

These reports depicted Fetahu as a key judicial figure compromised by corruption, leading to her resentment toward Kodra.

Criminal plot: Intercepted SkyEcc communications obtained by SPAK reveal that Fetahu sought help from a gang associated with Suel Çela to eliminate Kodra. However, the gang members, despite agreeing to the plan, appeared reluctant to target such a high-profile figure. They falsely assured Fetahu that they had acted, claiming to have burned down Kodra’s family home and blaming their inability to directly harm him on his alleged habit of sleeping at secure locations like the “Plaza Hotel.”

In a recent interview, Kodra dismissed these claims. He explained that his parents’ house was not burned and that he never slept at the Plaza Hotel.

The investigation revealed that the same gang was allegedly exploiting two other journalists to manipulate public narratives and discredit their rivals. This underscores the criminal group’s understanding of media influence, making their reluctance to target Kodra directly even more significant. They appeared to prioritize using media figures for subtle manipulation rather than overt violence against a widely respected journalist.

Alongside Kodra, Fetahu also targeted lawyer Arben Llangozi, whom she believed to be providing critical information to the media. The gang reportedly assured Fetahu that Llangozi would meet the same fate as lawyer Ravik Gurra, who was assassinated in Elbasan in 2019. These chilling details highlight the depth of collusion between organized crime and judicial corruption.