The Albanian High Court has found procedure violations in the trial of former Minister of the Interior Saimir Tahiri. The High Court ruled there was a conflict of interest for Judge Albana Boksi. In its arguments, the Court said the Prosecution gave to the criminal facts a different definition from the accusation. The court erred in not offering Tahiri the opportunity to defend himself on the charge of abuse of office, although according to the law it can make a different requalification of the criminal offense, but giving the defendant the opportunity to present his arguments.

Now Tahiri’s case will be trialed in the second grade which will take a definitive decision, but by another troupe of judges. He was charged with international drugs traffic but was sentenced with an imprisonment term of 3 years and 4 months – which was converted to probation – for abuse of office.