Head of the Socialist Party parliamentary group Taulant Balla has been sued for libel by Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Premier Sali Berisha. Balla, who wasn’t present in the courtroom today, had declared Berisha had avoided paying taxes.

Berisha laughed at Balla’s absence in the court today, saying he was probably “releasing some rapist from a police station somewhere”, referring to the accusations of a former police vice commissar who claimed Balla and Socialist MP Rraja took forcefully away from his office Rraja’s son which was detained over rape charges.

“I hope he hasn’t been releasing some rapist from a police station; I hope he hasn’t been travelling with some buddy trafficker; I hope the court once more prove Mr. Balla’s libel”, Berisha said after the court hearing.