On 23.01.2024, at 09:00, the Appeal Chamber held the public hearing of case (JR) 12/2023, dated 15.03.2023, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner against decision no. 606, dated 21.12.2022, of the Independent Qualification Commission, related to the assessee Mariola Mërtiri.
During the submission of the final conclusions, the Public Commissioner, Mrs. Irena Nino, standing by to the appeal grounds, in support of the recommendation and findings of the International Monitoring Operation, held that the assessee failed to prove the opposite of the burden of proof for any of the three vetting criteria, namely, assets, background and proficiency assessment, as well as in the overall evaluation of the case. In conclusion, the Public Commissioner requested the Appeal Chamber the amendment of decision no. 606, dated 21.12.2022, of the Independent Qualification Commission, and the dismissal from office of the assessee, Mrs. Mariola Mertiri.
The assessee, during the submission of her final conclusions, maintained her objections against all appeal grounds, stating that the acts and documentation made available to the trial panel and her explanations in the previous hearings prove that the appeal of the Public Commissioner is unsupported by evidence and acts and upon an erroneous interpretation of the legislation. In conclusion, the assessee, Mrs. Mariola Mërtiri, requested the upholding of decision no. 606, dated 21.12.2022, of the Independent Qualification Commission.
Following the hearing the final conclusions of the parties, the trial panel closed the judicial review of the case and withdrew to take the final decision of the case, scheduled to be announced on 29.01.2024, at 15:00.
The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.