Albanian gov’t officials convicted in incinerator corruption case

Koka was sentenced to ten years in prison, the court said in a verdict notice. However, due to the shorter trial procedure, he will spend only six years and eight months behind bars.

Koka served as minister of health for four years until 2017. He was also a member of the ruling Socialist Party.

Klodian Zoto, the administrator of a company which was granted a concession to operate the Fier incinerator, was sentenced to 12 years in prison but his sentence will be reduced to eight years due to the shorter trial procedure.

Zoto was charged with issuing tax invoices totalling 4.2 billion leks for services that were never provided by the company, Integrated Technology Waste Treatment Fier, local media reported earlier.

The businessman has also been found guilty in another high-profile corruption and money laundering case concerning a waste treatment facility in Tirana.

The verdicts can be appealed before a higher instance court.