cAPITAL
Mirgen Dervishi's name first became known to the public in 2015, when he was arrested by police for being involved in a 5 million euro VAT fraud scheme. At the time, Mr. Dervishi held the position of head of the control sector at the Tirana regional tax directorate.
After his arrest, Dervishi was dismissed from the tax office. But he later continued his career in the private sector, as an accountant. But Dervishi's name would return to the public eye again this summer, when the Bankers dossier broke.
According to the Fier prosecutor's office, Mr. Dervishi appears to have received 4 million euros from Bankers Petroleum justified as payments for accounting services, but in reality the services were not performed.
The prosecution does not explain why Bankers paid 4 million euros to a low-level accountant without receiving any services in return, because its investigation into the Bankers case has been truncated at best. But three independent sources told Kapital that the payments to Dervish and several other accounting firms were bribes given for the reimbursement of 60 million euros in value-added tax, with a former senior tax official as the final finisher.
The Fier Prosecutor's Office did not indict Mr. Dervishi, even though the file states that he received 4 million euros in payments for fictitious services. And now Mr. Dervishi is seeking to return to the Tax Office.
Two days ago, the Supreme Court held a trial on Mr. Dervishi's lawsuit for his reinstatement as an employee in the Tax Administration. The Supreme Court overturned the previous decision of the Court of Appeal and sent the case back to the Court of Appeal for a retrial, but with a different panel of judges.
This is the new justice, where all have opportunities, including accountants involved in bribery and money laundering. Meanwhile, the Public Oversight Board has become one of the most amorphous institutions in the country, while accountants involved in tax evasion, money laundering and bribery continue to keep their licenses undisturbed.
Editorial
