The Special Appeal Chamber held on 27.01.2026, at 10:00, the public hearing of case (JR) no. 39/2024, dated 15.10.2024, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner against decision no. 774, dated 14.06.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission, related to the assessee Petrit Vukaj.
The presiding judge announced that Article 179/b, paragraph 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania has set forth the transfer of powers from the Public Commissioner to the Head of the Special Prosecution Office. Pursuant to Article 199, paragraph 2 of the Civil Procedure Code, the trial panel decided to transfer the proceedings from the Public Commissioner to the Head of the Special Prosecution Office, represented in this case upon special authorization by the prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office, Mr. Adnan Xholi, present at the hearing.
During the submission of the appeal grounds, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office assessed that the assessee has made an incorrect and insufficient declaration of assets, while there are shortcomings identified as well in terms of legal knowledge, within the framework of the proficiency assessment, and findings in the background assessment, within in the context of the violation of the ethics of the magistrate, which should be taken into consideration by the Chamber within the framework of the overall evaluation of the case under Article 4, paragraph 2 of Law no. 84/2016, in conjunction with Article 61, paragraph 5 of this same law. The representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office stated that during these proceedings, the assessee is entitled to file additional evidence and arguments challenging the appeal, but referring to the current state of the acts, Mr. Xholi requested the amendment of decision no. 774, dated 14.06.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission and the dismissal from office of the assessee Petrit Vukaj.
The legal representative of the assessee provided detailed explanations regarding the appeal grounds, objecting them as unfair and unfounded in law and evidence. In support of his claims, the assessee filed new acts, which he requested to be accepted as evidence by the Chamber after the opening of the judicial investigation.
As to the complaints, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office stated that they contain no grounds and circumstances for further investigations, a position shared by the assessee.
After being consulted, the trial panel decided to open the judicial investigation of the case, accepting as evidence the acts lodged by the assessee, while deciding not to investigate further the complaints, as they fail to meet the requirements of Article 53 of Law 84/2016.
Once the parties stated that they had no other procedural requests, the trial panel decided to close the judicial investigation and invited them to submit their final conclusions, at the next hearing, which shall be held on 03.02.2026, at 12:00.
The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Special Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.