The Court of Tirana has sentenced Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti in absentia with a 17-year imprisonment term.

The Prosecutor had asked a 20-year term in prison for the Italian businessman over charges of money laundering and abuse of office.

The Court ruled Becchetti had created a system of commercial activities with the intention of concealing his criminal activity.

In the system, the defendant had involved his mother Lilliana Condomiti and his mother-in-law Vjollca Kamberi.

Their assets and the banking accounts of the companies will be confiscated by the Albanian state.