Former PM’s son refuses to take oath, leaves commision without testifying
The son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha has refused to take oath in front of a parliamentary commission investigating the privatization of Albanian distributing system, causing the commission head to request him to leave the hall.
The head of parliamentary commission investigating the privatization of Albanian distributing system to the Czech company, CEZ, Taulant Balla requested from Shkelzen Berisha, who was called to testify as witness, to take oath and tell his generalities.
But, PM Berisha’s son Shkelzen replied saying that “you can find my generalities at the court verdict where you are convicted of defamation. I can not take oath in front of a person who is convicted of defamation.” Berisha accused Balla to be at a flagrant conflict of interest.
That made Balla request from Berisha to leave the hall. “The witness who is afraid to take oath must leave the hall, he will be called again to testify,” Balla said.
“I’m here to shed light on one of the most important privatizations of my county, from which it results to have been stolen lots of money,” Balla said, adding: “ If you do not accept to take oath, your testimony has no value.”
Speaking after the failed session, Berisha said he had nothing to do with the CEZ privatization, for which he was called to testify.
On the other side, Balla told reporters that they were investigating a banking transaction made four week after the privatization was signed. Berisha was called to testify on this issue, he said.
Balla said that a person had sent an amount of money from a Czech bank to Nue Kalaj, a person who according to him has had strong links with Albanian authorities, including former PM Sali Berisha. In an e-mail even Shkelzen Berisha’s name was mentioned, that was why he was called to testify.
Previously, PM Sali Berisha has refused to take oath in front of Balla and did not testify at the commission.
In 2008, CEZ bought 76 % of Albanian distributing system for 102 million euros. The Socialist Party led government now accuses the Democratic Party, which was in power back that time, to have caused a damage valued at 414 million euros for Albanian state and people selling the company to the Czech company. /tvklan.al