Notary in Tirana has 13 properties and 5 bank accounts seized, worth around 3 million euros

A 35-year-old notary from Tirana, ST, has had 18 assets worth 3 million euros seized, which are suspected to be from criminal sources. 

Albanian police have announced that the police operation known as "Signature" has been finalized. 
Investigations are also underway to trace and seize other 35-year-old properties with suspicious sources. 

"In parallel, investigative and procedural actions are being carried out to trace and seize other assets of the 35-year-old, with suspicious sources, as well as to document with legal evidence the source of income of this citizen. Within the framework of a criminal proceeding, initiated at the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, with the object of tracing criminal assets, suspected to have been obtained by the citizen ST, 35 years old, residing in Tirana, while performing her duties as a notary, the Section for the Investigation of Money Laundering and Criminal Assets finalized the operation "Signature". Following the procedural actions, carried out within the framework of this proceeding, the decision of the Tirana Court was executed, for the execution of 18 assets of the 35-year-old, worth 3 million euros, specifically 13 real estate properties and 5 bank accounts. Investigations and operational actions continue. The procedural materials were referred to the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, for further actions," the State Police announced. 

The Tirana Prosecutor's Office has also announced the case. The prosecutor's office said that it is suspected that during the period 2013-2024, the notary carried out a number of transactions for the purchase of real estate, including apartments, shops, parking lots and a villa in the "Rolling Hills" complex. 

It is suspected that part of the funds for the property purchase came from her ex-husband, KP, who is serving a 21-year prison sentence. 

"The verifications found a clear discrepancy between the declared legal income and the expenses incurred for these investments. It is suspected that part of the funds used to purchase the assets came from her ex-husband, citizen KP, who has been declared internationally wanted by the Italian authorities and has been convicted of serious criminal offenses, including the criminal offense of "Exploitation of prostitution", with a maximum sentence of up to 21 years in prison. The imposition of the preventive seizure measure aims to guarantee the preservation of the assets during the criminal investigation and to prevent their transfer or use to conceal their illegal origin. The prosecution continues the investigations for the full documentation of the financial sources and suspected assets", the Tirana Prosecution Office announced.