The Special Appeals Court has overturned the decision on former Operations chief Oltion Bistri, finding him guilty of corruption and money laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense.
On the corruption charge, the Appeals Court sentenced him to 5 years in prison, while for money laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense he received 7 years in prison.
When the sentences were combined, Bistri was given 11 years in prison. Due to the shortened trial procedure, the final sentence is 7 years and 4 months in prison.
In addition to the prison term, the court also ordered the confiscation of his assets, including apartments, shops and a sum of 1 million and 300 thousand euros.
In the First Instance Court, Bistri had been sentenced to only 2 years in prison for the charge of unlawfully disclosing secret data. He was released from prison in November 2025, while today’s Appeals Court decision returns him to a cell.
Meanwhile, for the other defendants in this case, the First Instance Court’s decision has been upheld.
Specifically, Edmond Preka was sentenced to 7 years in prison, Astmer Bilali to 5 years and 8 months in prison, Behar Brajoviq to 8 years and 8 months in prison, and former prosecutor Xhevahir Lita to 3 years and 4 months in prison.