Veliaj clashes with the prosecutor in the case in court: You have a conflict of interest, it's personal with me

Details have emerged from the closed-door session assessing the security measures against Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj.

Sources from the hearing reveal that Veliaj addressed prosecutor Olsi Dado in harsh tones, accusing him of a conflict of interest.

Veliaj requested the prosecutor's removal from the case, as according to him the accusations are the prosecutor's personal grudge after he was dissatisfied with a building permit granted to him by the Tirana municipality, reports Euronews Albania.

"You have a conflict of interest, it's personal with me. You presented yourself to me and obtained a building permit from me. After you were dissatisfied, you told me 'you'll remember'. You have two options: either walk away from this issue, or align yourself with the other builders here," Veliaj is reported to have said during the hearing.

At this point, Judge Erjon Bani drew the mayor's attention to his tone and asked him to maintain solemnity in the courtroom.

We remind you that since 08:30, a hearing has been held at the GJKKO premises to verify the security measures for the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, his wife Ajola Xoxa and 5 businessmen.

Initially, the hearing was postponed by 5 hours after the request of Veliaj's lawyers who asked for time to familiarize themselves with the prosecution's files. Veliaj was escorted from the Security Block to the GJKKO in a police van, while Xoxa, who is under house arrest, was escorted by two police officers.

Meanwhile, while the trial was taking place in court, several hundred Veliaj's supporters gathered in front of the court building to provide moral support to the mayor.

Veliaj is accused by SPAK of corruption and money laundering following a report made by him by a citizen self-identified as Nesti Angoni.